Oxford’s definition of passion: a very strong feeling of love, hate, anger, enthusiasm, etc.

The root words for “passion” in Latin and Greek are passio or pathos, respectively, which mean suffering and also love. The original Latin definition of passion meant “enduring” or “suffering.” I This meaning continues in the word “compassion” which means “enduring with” or “suffering with.”  This is where we get the idea of the passion of Christ; Jesus suffered for what he loved: US, You and Me.

These days, we use the word passion to describe our feeling for something that we love. It could be a person, it could be a pastime, it could be a food. My four-year-old grandson has a passion for dinosaurs. He sleeps with his stuffed “dino.” He has many books on the subject, and he has memorized them all. He stayed with us over the weekend, and his Poppa took him to see some dinosaurs in Bellevue. He had also seen some dinosaur bones at a park in Utah earlier this summer. He has talked non-stop about those dinosaurs, with such excitement and enthusiasm.

Can you relate? Do you have a passion for something, or does someone you know have a passion for something? I know people who have a passion for the Predators, or the Vols, or the Titans. My father-in-law had a passion for the Chicago Cubs. (So sad that he didn’t live to see them win the World Series in 2016.) Others have a passion for a hobby, or a cause. We just observed the Olympics, and we watched athletes who certainly have a passion for their sport; why else would they devote so much time and money to perfecting their skills.

Many of us, hopefully most, experienced a strong feeling of love and enthusiasm  for Jesus when we were first converted to Christianity. I think about this when I read the letter to Ephesus in Revelation 2:4. The church at Ephesus is admonished by John, in a letter dictated by Jesus, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forgotten the love you had at first.” Remember when we couldn’t wait to go to church, to read our Bibles, eager to serve, and wanting to tell everyone about our conversion experience, about our church, our pastor, our new life? Honestly, I still feel like that about Nashville Rescue Mission. I have a passion for this place and the work that is done here, and especially how God is at work through each of you. But for many of us, that original high level of passion fades. We “forget the love we had at first.”

Despite all their good works,  God still saw that they had lost their original passion, and He told them “Yet I hold this against you.” Not good. God desires our love, our passion, our worship. How do we keep the passion alive over time? How do we fan the flame? The subject of the next few weekly devotions will be dedicated to keeping the passion alive.

“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

They ignored the Lord’s warnings and commands, and they rejected the solemn agreement he had made with their ancestors. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. The Lord had told the Israelites not to do the things that the foreign nations around them were doing, but Israel became just like them. (2 Kings 17:15)

The proverb in the title of this devotion is true in almost every aspect of our lives. In the case of the Scripture reference, this reminds me of what my mother would often tell me: that I would be known by the company I keep. Of course, it really means that I will be known by the people I choose to emulate. When I taught Sunday School to middle schoolers, I used the phrase “garbage in, garbage out”, often known as GIGO, referring to unwholesome books, movies, and music. And then we also hear from our health advisors that “you are what you eat.” Does that mean that when I eat chicken, I will become a chicken? Of course not! But I’m sure you get the point.

Standards today are so different from even fifty years ago, and even then, they were different from the previous fifty years. The culture, rather than reinforcing Christianity, is now the enemy of all of us who want to honor God with our thoughts, words, and actions.

Daniel is a perfect example of one who overcomes the ungodly culture, and he is one of my most treasured role models. Daniel was a good Jewish boy who became a young adult during the time that the Babylonians conquered Judah. Daniel and his friends were taken captive by this enemy country and subjected to its pagan religion, culture, and food. The path of least resistance and risk was to go along. But Daniel did not believe that becoming a captive of the Babylonians meant that he had to become like them, even at risk to his life and well-being, and even when going along might have even seemed more delicious.

For example, when King Nebuchadnezzar “assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table,” “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” (Daniel 1:5,8)

And when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered Daniel to be taught “the language and literature of the Babylonians,” “God gave (Daniel) knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.” (Daniel 1: 4:17)

When King Darius ordered that everyone pray only to him, Daniel “…went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before.” (Daniel 5:7,10) Postscript: this is when Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and then was miraculously spared from becoming their dinner.

As a result, Daniel (a Jewish exile) became a highly respected and trusted advisor to at least four foreign kings: Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylon, and Darius and Cyrus of Persia; and all without compromising his worship of God. In fact, Daniel was able to influence those cultures rather than to be influenced, as we see in the verses below:

• “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.” (Daniel 2:46-48).
• “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever” (Daniel 4:34).
• “Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom” (Daniel 5:29).
• “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. ‘For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’ So, Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.” (Daniel 6:26-28).

These were no small accomplishments! Daniel is such a great role model for us all. He could have easily become a follower of Nebuchadnezzar, and perhaps would have had enjoyed a high position anyway.  However, Daniel refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar or the kings that followed. He steadfastly followed the teachings of the Bible, even at risk to his own life, and because of that he is known as a godly man with a godly influence.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, put it like this:

“So, I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” (Ephesians 4:17-19)

“That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

In other words, you become like what you worship. So, let us together worship the one true God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Over the past few weeks, we studied the I AM statements of Jesus as he uses earthly metaphors such as “bread”, “light”, “door”, “way”, and “vine” to help us to better know Him. It is useful for us to learn about the attributes of God and his Son Jesus. But truthfully, we will never fully comprehend who He is until we see Him face to face.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9)

I am oddly comforted by the fact that I cannot fully comprehend God. I can try to explain the Trinity, but I can’t really comprehend the fullness and perfection of the Three-In-One.  By His divine nature, God is all-knowing, omni-present, and omni-powerful.  I am thankful for how He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful at the same time; and although I am such a benefactor of this aspect of His perfect goodness and love, I do not have the capacity or power within myself to perfectly emulate it.

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps. 145:3)

As a human, I have a sinful nature; as a created being, I have my limits. As our Creator, God is limitless and without sin. He is simply bigger and more than my human mind can comprehend. I have a choice: I can accept this and trust Him, or I can disregard him. For me, I choose to trust His word and His promises in Deuteronomy 30:15-16 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase….”

So why is this comforting? I guess it is because I know my own limitations, sins, shortcomings, and sorrows; and I am so relieved that my God, as my Creator, does not possess these same limitations, sins, and shortcomings. I know that my own disappointments and grief here on earth are temporary, and that when I finally leave this earth to spend eternity with God, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

In the meantime, we as believers have been given a great gift. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, to be with us while we reside here on earth. While we are human and do not possess in and of ourselves the attributes of God, we do have the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us to empower us to live and walk confidently and obediently with our Lord and Savior.

 ^“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”  (Romans 15:13)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

“Because I said so!” thundered my dad (way too many times).

I hated when my dad answered my “Why” questions like this. I vowed that I would never do this to my kids; that I would always explain my reasons. And then I had my own kids, and, and well, I did honestly try to explain to my children. I wanted them to understand. But sometimes, I knew that because of their immaturity, there was no way they could understand. Maybe I knew the truth would be just too much for them to carry. Maybe it was because I knew that I was hoping to have something better for them but was still working out the details. Maybe I could not offer an explanation because I needed to honor someone else’s confidentiality. So, I would become my dad and tell them, “Because I said so.” I now believe this to be one of the Godlier expressions a parent or anyone in a responsible position can utter. Not that it should be overused, but sometimes, it is the best answer.

Sometimes, we can’t understand. Sometimes we just don’t need to know why, at least right now. I feel like that is where we are in our current circumstances. Why are we dealing with so much change, while we are dealing with so much sickness, while we are dealing with such a worker shortage? Why? It is just not for us to know.

Acceptance of this response “Because I said so” comes down to trusting the one who has spoken. Oh sure, we can tolerate the news or instruction with resentment, but if we love and respect our dad, we will instead trust and be obedient. We will keep on honoring the work set before us, the mission of the Mission.

This calls to mind the old song, Trust and Obey:

We are in a season of trusting right now. Let us seek to trust and obey. And one thing we know is this, God will surely bless us for our faithfulness, in His own timing and His own way.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:45-47)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Trust and Obey

1 When we walk with the Lord 
in the light of his word, 
what a glory he sheds on our way! 
While we do his good will, 
he abides with us still, 
and with all who will trust and obey. 

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way 
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

2 Not a burden we bear, 
not a sorrow we share, 
but our toil he doth richly repay; 
not a grief or a loss, 
not a frown or a cross, 
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove 
the delights of his love 
until all on the altar we lay; 
for the favor he shows, 
for the joy he bestows, 
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet 
we will sit at his feet, 
or we’ll walk by his side in the way; 
what he says we will do, 
where he sends we will go; 
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]