"Passion for the Lord"

Philippians 3: 9-11

“My passion is to be consumed with him and not clinging to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My “righteousness” will be his, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ --- the very righteousness that comes from God.

And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and I will be one with him in his death.

Only then I will be able to experience complete oneness with him in his resurrection from the realm of death.”

In these verses Paul is expressing his passion for Jesus but in a selfless way. Starting in verse 9 Paul makes note that his righteousness isn’t his own but is of Jesus!

What is righteousness? “Righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God, including character, conscience, conduct, and command. Righteousness is, therefore based upon God’s standard because he is the ultimate Lawgiver” Isaiah 33:22 tells us. “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.”

This continues to show the humility of Paul, knowing and understanding that everything comes from the Lord. Even when it comes to his righteousness.

Continuing, you can hear the passion behind Paul’s words for Jesus. The eagerness in wanting to know more of Jesus and experience the wonders of him is something we can take from Paul.

Paul understood what being a follower of Jesus is about. A part of it is to suffer for Christ. Its importance to suffer for Christ is throughout the Bible. This also shows the passion Paul had for Christ!

Our passion for Jesus should be exercised daily in our lives. Wanting to know more and be changed by him is something we should do daily.

As you reflect in your life how are you suffering for Christ? The passion we have for Christ should also reflect the suffering!

God is LOVE!

Choose LOVE first!