Identifying by Passion

We are all familiar with the movie, The Passion of Christ.  Easter ceremonies speak of the passion.  When I was very young I thought that word meant death and I suppose many people associate His death with that word, for the archaic meaning of the word is "agony".  We now identify it with any very strong, expressive feeling.  Zeal, also, is a word used to express a person who has a passion for a certain lifestyle.  Jesus told His disciples in John 4:34 what was His zeal.   (NASB) ³⁴ Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.  When Jesus cleansed the temple by driving out the moneychangers, His disciples remembered it in connection with Psalm 119:139.    John 2:17 (NLT)  ¹⁷ Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”  (Psalm 119:139 (NASB) ¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

If we are to identify with Jesus, there are some steps we must take.  First, we must know with Whom we are identifying.  John 15:7 (NASB) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.   Abiding is dwelling, living, inhabiting.  Where you go to be yourself, kick off your shoes, fellowship with your family, find your comfort zone and rest.  It is part of your identity.  It is what the world sees when it no longer sees you, and it is where people know they can find you.  It is your abiding place.  If the Word has that abiding place in you, you know it.  If Jesus is your abiding place, you know Him.  His will is your will.  His passion is your passion.  Your "work place" should have "God and Sons" over it.  What drove Jesus was to do the Father's will.  What drives you?  I ask myself this on a regular basis.  I do a reality check.  Why am I here?  What am I trying to accomplish?  If the answer is an honest, to do His will, I seek the Spirit's guidance and do some time in conversation with my Boss, or it is repentance time until I get back on track.

Second, know what He is doing.  Jesus had a passion to do just what He was sent to do.  He could not do what He is doing now because the cross was His goal and that ended His earthly ministry.  Now, seated once more on His throne, He administers the Father's will through His Body on earth.  We cannot have a true passion to do the will of God and not have a passion for His Body on earth.  We must seek the blessing on the Body of Christ the same as we cry out for blessing on our own body.  We cannot identify with Jesus without identifying with His Body. 

Satan's attempt to thwart God is to get believers to criticize, judge, limit and neglect the other members of Jesus' Body.  The command we have in the New Covenant is to love one another as He has loved us.  His zeal to complete the work that He was sent to do has opened the door for you to become just like Him.  The only way we can see that accomplished is to give Him a covenant response and love.  Care for His Body as you care for your own.  The family is the vital unit in all that God has done, is doing and will do.  In our own home, the husband reveals Jesus to his family by loving his wife and caring for her as he does his own body and covering his household with faith.  The wife, the picture of the church, respects and loves her husband with a passion to please him and be the one to respond to his leading.  The children learn and follow in honor and obedience.  It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!  Luke 12:32 (ESV)  “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.