Jesus Transforms Our Passion

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, ESV)

For Insight

Have you ever wondered what Jesus was passionate about? In the Gospel of Luke Jesus details his passion. What drove and inspired him. No doubt Jesus was passionate about us! Just like the Father, he was passionate about delivering us from a sentence of death. Passionate about giving sight to the blind—not in the physical sense, but those who were blinded by the world and by Satan. Jesus was passionate about setting the captive free and letting us know the favor of God was upon us because he had sent his Son into the world to save us. Yes, Jesus healed the sick but giving physical healing to the sick was not his passion. Jesus healed our earthly sicknesses because of his compassion toward us. Jesus’ passion was saving souls and bringing salvation to a lost and dying world, shining light into darkness so we might experience eternity in heaven.

Do you know what you are passionate about? Knowing our passion(s) is a good thing. The thing(s) we are passionate about can be the driving factor—that thing that will help us push through difficult times because we don’t care what it will take to be better or get to where we sense we should be. Our passions can fuel our existence, fuel the fires of inspiration, and open us up to opportunities and changes around us. Passions can give us that inner enthusiasm and excitement for life.

Passion is defined as “a strong, barely controllable emotion. Feeling strongly emotionally about something. A strong feeling, especially of anger, love or desire, having an intense, driving or overmastering feeling or conviction.” Yet, it doesn’t have to be an obsession. It can just be that thing that when we start to talk about it, we don’t want to stop. It’s been said if you see where the majority of your money is spent that indicates what you love the most and identifying your passion can be just as simple. What do you think about the most, talk about the most, look forward to the most? What excites you about waking up to a new day and is the last thing on your mind at night before going to sleep?

Our passion is a strong sensation or emotion which means it’s housed in our soul. The same place our character, values, and thoughts are located. Because it’s part of that unseen part of us which needs to be carefully monitored, passion can swing both ways. It can work against us if we are still chronologically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually immature. Some Bible verses remind us that out of youthful, uncontrolled passions we can get into trouble, make foolish choices, take paths that are detrimental. But passions can also serve us in good ways like when we have matured chronologically, emotionally, and spiritually and they become the needful driving factor to help us get to those places and accomplish those good works God has ordained for us beforehand (Eph. 2:8-10).

The Apostle Paul is a good example of how Jesus transforms human passions to serve the kingdom of God and glorify God. Before his conversion Saul was passionate about all the wrong things but when Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus Jesus took Saul’s passion and repurposed it for kingdom work. Jesus changed Saul’s name and his heart of passion. As Paul he was an amazing on fire servant for the Lord. We have two-thirds of the New Testament today because of the passion Paul had for winning souls to Christ. After his conversion his entire life was dedicated to preaching and teaching Christ crucified, risen and ascended.    

When we make our home in Jesus Christ he will transform our passions also. He’ll take those passions that are fueled by our carnal nature and turn them into those which glorify God. Living in Christ we’ll be like David when he said, “Give me a clean heart O God…” (Psalm 51:10) or, “Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24)

Transformed through Christ, our passions which once lead us away from God and into darkness now inspire us to serve the Lord and lead others to him.

Jesus, transform my earthly passions into those which serve your purposes and glorify God. Amen

Ask Yourself:

What am I passionate about? Have my passions been transformed through an indwelling and intimate relationship with Christ?                       

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