With A Passion!

When you think of “passion”, what comes to mind? Romance? Tender love? Lust?

Passion relates to more than that sphere. Passion is intense feeling. Passion is extreme emotion. Therefore you could either hate or love with a passion! The passion which motivates may vary from situation to situation. So what is the heart of the matter? That’s it -- the HEART!

We noted that Jonah finally obeyed God and went to Nineveh to deliver God’s message of doom. He may have been passionate in his preaching because the message struck the heart of the people. And because of the penitent heart of the Ninevites, God spared this city. But what was the condition of Jonah’s HEART?

We read:
“(1) BUT IT DISPLEASED JONAH EXCEEDINGLY, AND HE WAS ANGRY. (2) And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I KNEW THAT YOU ARE A GRACIOUS GOD AND MERCIFUL, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” ( Jonah 4:1-2 ESV)

Do we find Jonah’s response shocking? It appears Jonah obeyed God in action, but not in spirit. He may have been passionate in the delivery of the message, but was it with the passion or HEART OF GOD? Could it be that Jonah’s view of the wicked was “Lord, wipe ’em out!” rather than “Lord, help them see!”? Jonah had rebelled and run away from God, yet God spared his life and gave him a second chance to obey. Why could Jonah not recognize the place for the same kind of mercy toward the city of Nineveh? Did he think he deserved something Nineveh did not?

God has revealed to us that a passion for righteousness and truth can go hand in hand with a passion for the salvation of lost souls. Jesus illustrated this clearly through His life (i.e. John 8:11), teachings (i.e. Luke 15:1-32), and willingness to give His life on the cross as the atonement for our sins (note Romans 5:8). God revealed it through His provision of a means to remove the penalty of sin from our lives by His marvelous grace and mercy. What we have received is neither deserved nor merited. And it is not for us alone!

As we share the truth of God, may we possess the HEART OF GOD behind the message. The HEART OF GOD is broken by the lawless deeds of His Creation, but His HEART rejoices over those who repent and are saved. May we be passionate about God’s truth as well as His desire for the seeking and saving of the lost!

Have a great day VIEWING OTHERS WITH THE HEART OF GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Jonah