Run back and get it!

 

Are you passionate for God? Passion comes from a Latin word "paserre," meaning to suffer. Passion is whatever a person is willing to suffer for.

 

If you are not passionate for God you are missing real life. Here is a suggestion based upon what Jesus said in John chapter 15 in defining His relationship to us.

 

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

 

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:8).

 

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).

 

The sap of the vine is the Holy Spirit, which is the life of God running through your being. When you abide, not only do you receive the rewards (fruit, joy, and intimacy) but God receives His rewards as well. He is glorified.

 

Jesus made the connection but it is up to you to continue to abide. How? Obedience to His Word.

 

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10).

 

What happens with disobedience? Remember that disobedience can also be passive, not even seeking God to discover His plan for your life.

 

"If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:6, KJV).

 

If you are not abiding, then you may feel like your life is being trampled upon. Your life may be parched from fire, or you may actually feel "men" casting you into the fires of life. God is not punishing you, "men and life" are. The protective life giving sap of God has been restricted and constrained in your life.

 

Think about this.

The word "Lord" carries the connotation of owner of slaves. It also infers "bread provider." Too often some see obedience as something that is optional. They might think "I can take it or leave it, but don't make me be too radical." I would not want to face the One who died for me with that kind of an attitude!

 

You may ask, "How can I renew my joy, how can I become passionate for God?"

 

Run back and get it!

Go back to the detour you took long ago or even last week. Run back to the point of disobedience or to the point you discontinued even seeking God to find out what He would ask of you. Stop there; ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness based upon the great love He demonstrated by sending Jesus to take your place at the Cross. He will be quick to forgive and cleanse you, and soon you will see joy and God's own passion flowing through your being. You life may not be "all put together" immediately, but you will have "life."

 

Then get ready for some of the other rewards.

 

"Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20).

 

 

Larry Chkoreff September, 2002