Passion and Intensity

I bought this book yesterday that has really got me thinking about these two words - passion and intensity. The title sparked my interest and I am so excited to get into the meat of it. All evening, while riding in the car and spending time with family yesterday, I kept think about these words...passion/intensity. I wonder if I display any of these characteristics in my daily walk with the Lord. It has been great food for thought.

It seems to me that there were very few - if any - scriptural accounts that did NOT reflect some degree of passion or intensity. Some that immediately cross my mind were when Christ sweat drops of blood, when Zaccheus climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus, when Jesus displayed his anger at the selling that was taking place at the temple, when the woman intently reached out to touch the hem of his garment, when Mary and Martha asked Jesus why He had not come sooner when Lazarus died, when Peter adimantly denied Christ, when Paul preached the gospel and was imprisoned for His faith...there are so many that my mind is directed to.

It appears to me that our Christian experience - our journey - should be passionate! It should be intense! As Christians, we follow a passionate, intense Christ! We must passionately pursue Him, seek Him with intensity, share Him with drive and desire to see others come to Him.

Are we walking lazily through this life, just glad to be here, just barely making it? Are we passively hoping that others will catch a glimpse of our "Christianness." Are we focused on ourselves, our comfort, our lives, our material possessions, our happiness, our dreams, our plans? Are we attending Sunday morning corporate worship out of obligation and putting on an "I'm alright, your alright" attitude for two hours? Are we fulfilling an obligation to teach a class or sing a song so we can "feel" like we've worshipped or served?

Some thoughts that my heart is examining and dealing with this morning - please join me:

*how long it may have been since we took a lost friend to lunch and verbally expressed face to face our concern for her soul;

*how many times we come to church "hoping" we won't sing the same songs we sang last time or that the music will be 'entertaining' - when in reality there are Christians around the world who just long to get together with other Christians and sing ANY song together - i.e. Chinese underground Christians;

*how many times we knew that God had placed someone on our hearts to all/contact/visit/pray for that we just did not take seriously;

*how many among us need us to be real - not perfect, not having it all together - but real;

*how many times we've acknowledged to others around us what God is doing in our life, how His Word is penetrating our lives;

*how many times we have ACTUALLY read His word this week - not just a book about His word, but actually allowed His word to speak to us and change us;

*how many times recently we have been passionate about our love of Christ, our love for my family, our commitment to our church;

*how many times we have passionately and intensely prayed in the Spirit - praying for our will to line up with His will completely;

*how many times we have taken a risk for the cause of Christ?

Alot to think about today...