Where Is Your Passion? Will You Follow Jesus? - Part 2292

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness." (Romans 9:31)

Sadly, professing believers too often skirt around scriptures that do not align with traditional, religious dogma. I was reminded of this from an article I was reading that focused specifically on Acts 2:42-47. There was no mention of the instructions pertaining to salvation -- that led those first 3,000 souls to be saved on the day of Pentecost. Neither was there any attention focused on how this large number of people came into "one accord" -- or for that matter, even the message that Peter (standing with the eleven) preached. (Acts 2:36-41; Hebrews 6:1-2)

That is, "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-41)

Indeed, it felt like a message without foundation -- that the church is akin to a social club without any absolute as the Head of the body of Christ church. Thankfully, there was some mention of "continuing steadfastly" in the apostles' doctrine, which may cause some believers to search for further clarity -- what exactly does this mean? -- but my concern is for new believers who may not understand that the reason the early church became the world changers they did is because they repented and were clothed in the righteousness of Jesus -- by being water baptized in His precious Name. (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21; Acts 8:12-16; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5; Revelation 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20)

After all, did Jesus not instruct us to follow Him? Are we not to be baptized in the Name -- singular?

Why is this critical to understand? Because when we truly desire to follow Jesus as both Lord and Christ, as the Bread of Life, as the Shining Light so desperately needed to strengthen us in this world, longing after His unique purpose for our life, worshipping Him as our God and Saviour -- with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, our heart motivations and desires will change. And through that willingness to have the Lord Jesus establish our steps, we become transformed into His likeness. Our heart desires for the things of this world quickly diminishing. Our minds renewed because we too, like the early believers willingly put on His cloak of righteousness.

And as a consequence, Jesus writes His Name in our hearts. He cuddles us in His hand so that we might have abundant life in Him. But this love relationship is not done in a vacuum. We who profess to believe must desire the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, so that when we love Him (Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is ONE LORD!) we can flow His love through to others around us. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Mark 12:29-31)

Therefore, in order to more effectively understand the intensiveness of the word desire, I compared it to my craving or hunger of hankering after chocolate (a weakness!) -- or more aptly put, that intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing for a chocolate bar that only it will satisfy. Other synonyms to describe 'desire' include: itching, longing after, a passion for, a thirst that is not easily quenched, an urge that continues and does not go away. A zeal. An eagerness or impatience to be satisfied. Similar to an obsession, a necessity or need, which we believe to be a requirement.

It is here that I ask the question? When we say we are following Jesus (as both our Lord and Christ), do we long after Him -- the One and Only Lord who offers the living water wherein we will never thirst again? Does our desire to follow Jesus include a passion for the heavenly; an eagerness or impatience to do His will that only He can satisfy. Again, that thirst and hunger that is not easily quenched.

Note that Peter was not speaking alone on the day of Pentecost. The eleven other apostles stood with him in one accord -- desiring also to become world changers, regardless of the cost. Do we believe as the psalmist did -- that in our desire to focus on the Lord as our Shepherd -- that we too shall not be moved because the Lord is always before our face. Does our heart rejoice and our tongues ever glad, and our flesh resting in His hope and joy?

Or, do we still have one foot in the world, straddling the fence, hoping that somewhere along the way, the Lord will bless us for our half-heartedness? It is an honest question that hopefully causes each and every one of us to examine ourselves.

At the end of the day, the Good Shepherd who willingly laid down His life for His sheep should be our focus. For we certainly were His when after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ... (Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16) Meditate on these things this day!

Stand in the offering plate.