pursue your dream

Note: much of this post was first shared in January 2011, but I believe the heart of what is shared will inspire us to know and pursue the passion that God have given each of us.

John 2:17 NLT

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me."

Jesus did some things that were pretty far out there.  He didn't follow the status quo or anyone else's code of conduct or even what the religious leaders said was right.  Jesus passionately did what God said His purpose was for being on earth.  The from John 2 quoted above comes right after Jesus had cleared the temple when people had made it a shopping center or flea market rather than a place of worship.  What was wrong with the situation?  The people forgot the purpose of the temple.

When we forget the purpose of the church or our purpose, we will do things that are not right.  Yet when we remember and pursue our purpose, the things we do will seem wrong to some people, but our actions and our choices will fit well because of our calling from God.

It is kind of like helping the poor.  It might be uncomfortable and difficult, but we go there and do this work because it is our calling.  Maybe it is like the guy who is called to work with AIDS orphans or with people who committed difficult crimes and people, even some very close to us, don't understand why.  Jesus spent time with lepers and prostitutes and even tax collectors.  The people who considered themselves normal couldn't understand why Jesus did what He did.  Jesus knew who needed the truth He shared.

Knowing our purpose and pursuing our passion will drive us to do what we have to do and not to let things get in the way of that purpose, yet we have to be reminded of this truth from time to time.

Luke 4:18 NLT

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,

Those words first came from the Old Testament, but Jesus read them in the Temple where almost no one understand what He read.  Jesus knew His purpose.  Do we?

Mark 2:17 NLT

When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

Knowing our purpose will give us so much to do that we won't let anything take our minds and our actions off of the right target.  Jesus knew that too many lives were at risk, and they still are today.  God’s church, you and I, must know our purpose and pursue our God given passion no matter what it takes.  For me that means I must seek the Lord with all I have, lead with passion and minister to others with great compassion.  In doing that we will lets others see Jesus in our every day words and actions.

Know and pursue your passion!