Do you know someone who is so passionate about a particular cause that he or she eats, sleeps, even breathes that passion through every part of his or her being?  The focus is so fixed, there’s nothing that overshadows that cause.

Passion is capable of overtaking other parts of life. This can be a good thing (if it nourishes us and others) or it can be a really bad thing (if it negates healthy relationships and responsibilities).

The determining question becomes: Is my passion life-giving, or is it destructive in any way?

I think the most passionate person I’ve ever heard of (besides Jesus Christ) is the Apostle Paul. Even before he changed his focus, he was radical. He spared no means of stopping the movement of the early church. Then, after he came to a true understanding of the ways of God, he spared no means of furthering the church’s influence in the world.

Around A.D. 62, Paul, in his passion for God, recognized a passion in his friends who lived in Colossae. Paul was in prison, but word came back to him about the Colossians’ radical way of increasing God’s gospel. Their lives were changed and their passion drew others into the same kind of life change that only comes through the love of Jesus.

Side Note: I find it sad that Paul loved these friends so deeply but, being imprisoned, could not visit them face to face. They had to read his words in a letter. On the flip side, we get to read someone else’s mail, so that’s kind of fun! But seriously, we might not have these words had they been delivered audibly rather than on paper. So, thank you, God, for the way You work things out!

Here are Paul’s words: “We always pray for you…for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard this truth of the Good News.” (Colossians 1:3-5)

These friends had experienced the love of Jesus, and they were loving others in radical ways. Their life change was impacting their world! I loved the stories many of you sent last week. God is increasing His gospel through you! You know this because you are seeing life transformation right in front of you! 

Notice the 3 underlined words in the verses above: faith, love, hope. Their faith in Christ Jesus produced a radical love for others, and those stemmed from the hope in God’s promise of heaven. We could compose this formula: HOPE  (in eternity) = FAITH (in Jesus) + LOVE (toward others). I know–it’s simple, but it’s worth repeating :)

Are you looking for a passion that is life-giving? Do you have the desire to impact your world? Do you want to influence with lasting impact, rather than just for your own lifetime?

Whether you are looking or you have already identified your passion, Paul shares the secret of living for a cause that will last: Hope in God’s promise of eternity. This is the one cause that will last forever!

If you’ve spent much time reading God’s Word, this is not news to you. But if you’re like me,  sometimes I need a reminder to get me back in clear focus, a picture of what is most important, so that I can live centered in that passion, undistracted, undeterred.

There’s Purpose in Passion. Always. Is your purpose such that will last forever, or is it temporary? This is another good question to ask when evaluating our passions.

Eternal Life is Accompanied by Eternal Purposes.

Paul fleshes out this thought near the end of this chapter in Colossians. Following some deep theology about the source of their faith and love, he comes back around to explain the reason he’s so passionate about his purpose. “…God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery…Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) This verse always reminds me of a mantra I heard way back in the 1970s during the Jesus Movement: “The Christ is you loving the Christ in me.” It’s the life of Jesus within us that makes us capable of truly loving each other. It’s passion for Jesus that keeps love alive. 

Just as Paul states in verses 4-5, it is hope that feeds passion and passion feeds purpose.  What Paul and his friends looked forward to had a direct impact on how they lived life in the moment. The hope of heaven will be no less effective for you and me. 

Hope in the Future Produces Faith & Love in the Present

Have you found this to be true? Have you noticed where you focus your thoughts produces outcomes in your attitudes and actions? I encourage you to spend some time this week contemplating where your hope lies. think about it. Let it play out in your mind. If you need a kickstart, pull out a Bible dictionary or concordance to point you to scripture that will paint a picture for you. Allow the Lord to illustrate it through His Word. 

Have you experienced the impact of passion upon your own life?

Colossians 1 is the perfect resource for focusing our passions and centering our thoughts in life-giving directions.                                                                     

What insights are you hearing when you read Colossians 1? Shoot me a reply email or a comment below!