One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29. Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30. and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.”Mark 12: 28-31
The creative force behind all great art, all great drama, all great music, all great architecture, all great writing, and all great athletes is passion. Nothing great is ever accomplished without passion.
Passion Killers…
1. An unbalanced schedule.
Psalm 127…”it is senseless for you to work hard from early in the morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death…for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest. “
2. An unused talent.
1 Peter 4:10…”each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gifts well…”
3. An unconfessed sin.
1 John 1:9…”if you confess our sins He [God] can be trusted to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us for all unrighteousness…”
4. An unresolved conflict.
Job 5: 2…”resentment destroys the fool and jealously kills the simple…”
Job 18: 4…”you are only hurting yourself with your anger…”
5. An unclear purpose.
“Passion is waking up in the morning wherever you are and bounding out of bed because you know there’s something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that God made you for and you’re good at, something that’s bigger than you are and you can hardly wait to get at it again. It’s something that you’d rather be doing than anything else and you wouldn’t give it up for money because it means more to you than money.” —- Hobbs
6. An undernourished spirit will kill your passion.
Exodus 31:14…”you must worship only the Lord, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you…”
Passion Ignitors…
1. Love for God is the defining characteristic identifying the true believer.
Mark 12:30
2. Love for people is inseparable from the first command.
Mark 12:31
“The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important.”
– C. S. Lewis
