Passion With Action


Rise, let us be going, my betrayer is at hand. Mark 14:42

These few words that came from Jesus to his disciples following his time of intense and agonising prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane are filled with determination, courage and action. He knew all along the Father’s plan for his life on earth. He knew that his death was crucial to the plan and he knew the time had come to face this hour that would bring hope and deliverance from the power of Satan to the Kingdom of God, to those who would believe.

Throughout his ministry Jesus had been a man of action. He made it His purpose to fulfil his life’s mission as foretold by the prophets. He was intentional about the whole of his life. At the beginning of his ministry he boldly proclaimed the words of the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:18) and then went about doing what had been prophesied.

He could be a man of passionate, and compassionate, action because he knew his life’s mission. He did not back off from the task he’d been given even though it was going to cause him great pain and anguish of soul in death as he took upon himself the sins of humanity and as he experienced the acute and desperate pain of separation from God his Father with whom he had been from before time began.

In his humanity he had prayed to be released from this final but vital mission but he submitted to the will of God no matter what the cost. He knew there was no back-up plan, no other way for us to be restored to fellowship with God. His passion for our future brought bold action as he rose to meet his betrayer, the one who had been his friend.

I believe God wants to reveal to each one of us His purpose for our life. It may be big, it may be small, but God’s plan is important and only we can do what He has planned to do through us. We have a daily mission as well as a life mission.

Not only will He reveal His plan for us, but He will give us a passion for the plan if we allow Him to. For of him and through him and to him are all things (Romans 11:36). As we rely on Him, receive from Him and act for Him, He gets the glory and we get the joy and fulfilment.

James 2:26 likens faith with action to a body without a spirit – it is dead. Our action shows that our faith is real and living. Our action demonstrates that we have faith. There is a needy world waiting for the love of God, the message of the gospel, a word of encouragement, a helping hand, a friend, a shoulder to cry on…… What is your mission from God for today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, increase my passion for you and for your purpose in my life. Thank you for your passionate action in laying down your life so that I may live the Life your planned for me in all its fullness. Help me not to waste this gift of Life you gave, at such great cost to yourself. Amen