a passion for Christ
Chapter 4 reminds me of Kristine's lesson on the Passion of Christ. When we use the word passion, we usually think along the lines of:
Things that we have a passion for or are passionate about; be it teaching kids, mountain climbing, pets, playing video games, eating chocalate, etc. Someone who has a passion for basketball can spend everyday practicing their jumpshot and freethrows until they can hit it even with their eyes closed. People with a passion for eating can eat to the point they risk severe obesity, heart disease or other health ailments. Things that we are truly passionate about... we place a higher priority on them, make time for them, making sacrifices for, even forgoing food or sleep for them at the risk to our own health.
There is another definition of passion, from which we talk about the Passion of Christ. The latin root from which the word stems from is pati - to suffer(from which we get the word patient). The Passion of Christ; the suffering of Christ on the cross. Bonhoeffer talks about how Jesus had to suffer on the cross and be rejected by the ones He came to save, so that the Word of God could be fulfilled, and we be saved from our sins. That we crucified Jesus on the cross, and rejected Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the ultimate proof of God's love for us, even though we don't desire it nor deserver it. And so we proclaim our faith in Him - that Jesus is the messiah; the truth, the way, the light.
But Jesus says this... that if we call ourselves followers of Christ, If we truly love Him, we must deny ourselves and take up the cross, His cross... and follow Him(Matt. 16:24). Truly, if we have a passion for God, we would make God(and His will) a high priority in our lives. So great a passion we would give up our own desires, and even suffer pain and indignity in His name. So great a passion for Christ did the disciples have that most were persecuted and killed because of their faith.
We are a passionate people, with a passion for many things, some healthy and some not. You can tell what a person is passionate about by looking at their life, what they spend a majority of their time on; through their actions and words.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(Matt. 6:21).
5a : ardent affection : LOVE b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept c : sexual desire d : an object of desire or deep interest (Webster's online Dictionary).
Things that we have a passion for or are passionate about; be it teaching kids, mountain climbing, pets, playing video games, eating chocalate, etc. Someone who has a passion for basketball can spend everyday practicing their jumpshot and freethrows until they can hit it even with their eyes closed. People with a passion for eating can eat to the point they risk severe obesity, heart disease or other health ailments. Things that we are truly passionate about... we place a higher priority on them, make time for them, making sacrifices for, even forgoing food or sleep for them at the risk to our own health.
There is another definition of passion, from which we talk about the Passion of Christ. The latin root from which the word stems from is pati - to suffer(from which we get the word patient). The Passion of Christ; the suffering of Christ on the cross. Bonhoeffer talks about how Jesus had to suffer on the cross and be rejected by the ones He came to save, so that the Word of God could be fulfilled, and we be saved from our sins. That we crucified Jesus on the cross, and rejected Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the ultimate proof of God's love for us, even though we don't desire it nor deserver it. And so we proclaim our faith in Him - that Jesus is the messiah; the truth, the way, the light.
But Jesus says this... that if we call ourselves followers of Christ, If we truly love Him, we must deny ourselves and take up the cross, His cross... and follow Him(Matt. 16:24). Truly, if we have a passion for God, we would make God(and His will) a high priority in our lives. So great a passion we would give up our own desires, and even suffer pain and indignity in His name. So great a passion for Christ did the disciples have that most were persecuted and killed because of their faith.
We are a passionate people, with a passion for many things, some healthy and some not. You can tell what a person is passionate about by looking at their life, what they spend a majority of their time on; through their actions and words.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(Matt. 6:21).
posted by simo @ 10:59 PM
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