What's your passion?

(The following article was originally published in the October, 2013 issue of CCNConnect. Thought it was worth reposting.)

Do you dream of making a difference in the Kingdom of God, but you just don’t know where to begin? In talking with Christians about ministry opportunities, we often hear believers say, “I just don’t know what God wants me to do.” In light of such sentiments, consider Hebrews 10:24 which reads, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works”.  In this verse Paul, the writer of Hebrews, is admonishing all Christ-followers to purposefully and intently fix their eyes and minds upon ways to provoke or entice their brothers and sisters towards praiseworthy endeavors.

So how can we identify what praiseworthy endeavors God has prepared us for? Perhaps the answer is in the question, “What’s your passion?” What’s on your mind when you go to sleep at night and then first thing in the morning? During your devotions, are there any common themes to the verses you highlight? What absolute truths would you place your neck on the chopping block for? What brings you to your knees in tears? What injustice stirs emotionally charged statements such as, “Why doesn’t somebody do something about that?”

Perhaps God has given you the eyes to see the need for a reason. Maybe He has been preparing somebody to do something and that somebody is you. There are currently 24, and counting, active ministries at CCN. And believe me, there are plenty of opportunities for Spirit-led servants to reap the benefits of sharing the load. But if your passion leads you to minister to those in need in a fresh, new way, praise the Lord! Go for it!

Passion is a gift from God. It can be intense, but it is not something to fear. Remember God created us for good works, empowered us for good works, and then prepared those good works that we should walk in them to the praise of His glory. It may require a season of soul-searching prayer, a time of trial and error, the counsel of mature saints, and the confirmation of the Word of God to determine your fit in the body of Christ. But once a sanctified saint understands and surrenders their life to God’s will, they will turn the world upside down, or right side up, with the gospel of Christ and certainly make a difference in the Kingdom of God. So what’s your passion?