Passionately Passionate For People
God’s passion is known through the understanding of in His “Big Plan” (1 Peter 1:13-25). This plan was designed before time began. “He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation of the world (creation/time) . . . “(1 Peter 1:20). It is a plan of God’s sacrifice; which is, a plan of the sacrifice of God Himself – Jesus. This “Big Plan” utilizes the fulfillment of the promises; namely, the seed promise. “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring (Jesus) . . . who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). All people can be saved through Jesus because we are God’s passion. We were bought back. “. . . you were ransomed . . . with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundations of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him (Jesus) are believers in God, who raised him (Jesus) from the dead and gave him (Jesus) glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:18-21). The precious blood of Christ paid our penalty. I hope you would agree, God is definitely passionate for the salvation of people. Therefore, we who are recipients of God’s grace, have an understanding of God’s “Big Picture” – His passion.
Believers have a passion for people also – they must! In the letter of 1 Peter, Peter speaks about persecution, suffering, and loving God through our obedient action. Peter’s passion is driven by God’s passion. This passion comes from a real knowledge of Christ and His love: brotherly love, love for each other from a pure heart, and from being born again. “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this is the good news that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:22-25). It is from the knowledge of this passion that one family survived the stifling rule of the Communist Soviet Union.
Just after WWII, the dad was converted to Christ. He happened to find himself on the Soviet side when the borders were installed. His family was open with their Christianity. It wasn’t illegal to be a Christian. However, because he was a Christian, and not a member of the Soviet party system, he was forced to work the same job, never received a raise, and never was offered a promotion. His children were also penalized by not being allowed to go above the eighth grade. Periodically, the KGB, would come to their home worship time, uninvited, to make sure they didn’t say subversive things against the government. But what really showed the family’s passion for Christ was what the dad did after the “Wall” came down. He bought a new Bible. He tore out all the pages and put each in an individual plastic sleeve. Then he made a hole in his house wall. He stuck the pages in the wall and patched it. He said that if it happened once (persecution of Christians by their government) – it could happen again. This family had a passion for Christ, a passion for the Word, and a passion for the promises of God.
Today, all Christians need to be “Passionately Passionate for People”. We should be driven by God’s passion and other examples of Christ-like passion. Remember that everything good is wrapped up in the word that was preached to you. Our job is to proclaim. “But you (Christians) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim (let people know) the excellencies of him (God) who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Our job is to be prepared to preach Christ. “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (explanation) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16). I wrote an indictment to all followers of Christ. It is called “Cry for the Seeker”.
Cry For the Seeker
Who will cry for the child lost?
With pain, sorrow, and fear!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who doesn’t know what to hear!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who doesn’t know the meaning of love!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who can’t seek the lost for God!
Feed My Sheep!
Christians need to be even more “Passionately Passionate for People”. The Body of Christ’s passion is strengthened by knowledge, vision, and support. We must continue a close relationship with Jesus and His Word. We must emulate the vision of Christ and His passion for people. We must physically support those who are willing to be “Passionately Passionate for People” – those who take an active physical and spiritual front-line approach. May God bless those who are living the passion of God for the sake of people.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
Believers have a passion for people also – they must! In the letter of 1 Peter, Peter speaks about persecution, suffering, and loving God through our obedient action. Peter’s passion is driven by God’s passion. This passion comes from a real knowledge of Christ and His love: brotherly love, love for each other from a pure heart, and from being born again. “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this is the good news that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:22-25). It is from the knowledge of this passion that one family survived the stifling rule of the Communist Soviet Union.
Just after WWII, the dad was converted to Christ. He happened to find himself on the Soviet side when the borders were installed. His family was open with their Christianity. It wasn’t illegal to be a Christian. However, because he was a Christian, and not a member of the Soviet party system, he was forced to work the same job, never received a raise, and never was offered a promotion. His children were also penalized by not being allowed to go above the eighth grade. Periodically, the KGB, would come to their home worship time, uninvited, to make sure they didn’t say subversive things against the government. But what really showed the family’s passion for Christ was what the dad did after the “Wall” came down. He bought a new Bible. He tore out all the pages and put each in an individual plastic sleeve. Then he made a hole in his house wall. He stuck the pages in the wall and patched it. He said that if it happened once (persecution of Christians by their government) – it could happen again. This family had a passion for Christ, a passion for the Word, and a passion for the promises of God.
Today, all Christians need to be “Passionately Passionate for People”. We should be driven by God’s passion and other examples of Christ-like passion. Remember that everything good is wrapped up in the word that was preached to you. Our job is to proclaim. “But you (Christians) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim (let people know) the excellencies of him (God) who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Our job is to be prepared to preach Christ. “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (explanation) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Peter 3:15-16). I wrote an indictment to all followers of Christ. It is called “Cry for the Seeker”.
Cry For the Seeker
Who will cry for the child lost?
With pain, sorrow, and fear!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who doesn’t know what to hear!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who doesn’t know the meaning of love!
Who will cry for the child lost?
Who can’t seek the lost for God!
Feed My Sheep!
Christians need to be even more “Passionately Passionate for People”. The Body of Christ’s passion is strengthened by knowledge, vision, and support. We must continue a close relationship with Jesus and His Word. We must emulate the vision of Christ and His passion for people. We must physically support those who are willing to be “Passionately Passionate for People” – those who take an active physical and spiritual front-line approach. May God bless those who are living the passion of God for the sake of people.
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
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