Emmett J. Scanlan, the actor who played Saul in the TV series A.D. The Bible Continues did a fantastic job of painting a passionate portrait of his character. His portrayal of Saul’s efforts to eliminate believers in Jesus made me wince. I had trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that this man would become the beloved apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament!
As the series continued, Saul encountered Jesus while heading to Damascus. Just like that—everything changed (Acts 9:1-9). And the minute his sight was restored and his calling confirmed, this man (now known as Paul) passionately dove into his work once again (Acts 9:20). Only this time, he was for Jesus and not against Him (Acts 9:21). The startled expression on the faces of Barnabas and Ananias when the freshly converted Paul marched into a synagogue to preach about Jesus was priceless.
Paul was a man of conviction and unbridled passion. He was zealous for the truths he held dear, and his was a no-holds-barred approach to letting everyone know exactly where he stood. Today, people the world over read his letters for guidance and instruction in the Christian faith. His passion continues to resound through the ages (Philippians 3:12).
What would the world look like if you and I lived our lives for God with passion, conviction, and zeal? Romans 8:19 says, “All creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.” While creation breathlessly awaits the unveiling of God in His people, we can radiate the reality that we’re made in God’s image.
As with Paul, may passion for God flow from us as creation rejoices in the revelation of God’s amazing handiwork!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20
More:
Read Jeremiah 1:4-10 and consider Jeremiah’s call to minister for God.
Next:
What gifts and talents has God given you? How is God using your life to passionately reveal His ways?
Gary Shultz on November 25, 2016 at 5:43 am
Hi Remi, I hope you are enjoying the after glow of Thanksgiving. Passion, is a crazy thing to me. It is good to have, but hard to keep it a roaring flame. Although, I am blessed to experience God’s presence, I guess you could say that is passion. So I ask, is passion just an “out” thing or can it be built around those times with God, as He softly speaks to us? Is it a flame or or is it a foundation? We probably speak of the same desire to live a life of Christ. The ups and the downs and sometimes a flame is ignited that propels us into a place God would have us be. Sometimes life seems to beat us down and a flame is hard to find. However, the flame of faith should never go out. God has promised to be faithful and to give grace enough to keep the faith, howbeit a small flame. So, we ask God to be used as He would have us used, we keep sharp and seek for those we could speak to of Christ. I don’t always feel like my jets are fired, but I do usually know God is faithful and wants me to join His work. Maybe I need a new spark plug. Thanks Remi
remioyedele2015 on November 25, 2016 at 10:14 am
Hello Gary,
Happy Thanksgiving!! You’re absolutely right; passion is very difficult to maintain! I like the idea that our faith is a flame, and I believe each of us keep that flame alive in accordance with the personality God created us with. Paul seems to have been a man with a tenacious personality; whether persecuting Christ or witnessing for Him, he did it with zeal. We may not all be extroverts, but we should all determine what our devotion looks like in the context of our design and work to keep that alive in the highs and the lows of life.
Be blessed,
Remi
godlove on November 25, 2016 at 6:01 am
Thanks for highlighting the verse Philipians 3:12, Remi, I don’t think I had noted it before. I would certainly bookmark and try to memorise it, it can be a great mantra for me. I always wish I could display even half the passion and zeal for Christ which we read about in the early believers in Scripture, the apostle Paul being one of the best examples. I would like to believe that I have this passion in me, but I have been quite timid to display it in full view of the world. I’m wary about looking like some crazy religious fanatic, so I try to find a way that makes me look like a measured and well-thought person while still showing my zeal for Christ. But that right balance is not easy to find, if you ask me. Sometimes I wonder whether it’s not better to simply live out life as passionately as one can, without worrying too much about how it comes across. Food for thought for me. Thank you, Remi. Blessed weekend to everyone.
remioyedele2015 on November 25, 2016 at 10:19 am
Hello Godlove,
Happy Thanksgiving!! I can totally relate – I too often worry about striking the right balance, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you say we should live life as passionately as we can without worrying how that comes across. In fact, I’m sure that was Paul’s secret; he was who he was, without apology. May God give us the grace to worry only about how He views us.
Be blessed,
Remi
youssef1777 on November 25, 2016 at 10:59 am
THANK YOU LORD FOR SHADING YOUR BLOOD IN CALVARY AND WASHING AWAY MY SINS . PRAISE YOUR NAME .
sim jing ying on November 25, 2016 at 11:45 am
I receive the speech of tongues, playing the piano and recently God’s passion of guitar for the Lord, encourager, joker in a positive and good way and of course doing my devotion. God is using my Facebook, piano and guitar skills to spread the Word.