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Passion is defined as a strong, enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance.

As a believer I'm afraid many of us become complacent in our spiritual walk - content simply to walk in the knowledge that when we die we will go to heaven. If we allow complacency to rule our thinking, we will end up missing the entire point of the Christian journey. Jesus saved us so He could live in us and through us to impact other people in this world and bring them into a saving knowledge of Him. The apostle Paul is a perfect example of someone whose passion for the Lord was so great that in contrast, everything else —his heritage and achievements – were nothing short of garbage.

Paul counted "everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (v. 8).

Paul was a super-religious Pharisee trying to get to heaven on his own power. But the moment he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he discovered a relationship with the living God surpassed everything he'd ever done or could do on his own. His accomplishments weren't worth a dime and had no eternal value.

Truth be know, Paul gave up nothing of real value and yet gained everything. How many of us refuse to lay aside those things that have no real value? How many of us, in pursuit of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, would count every thing else a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Him, really knowing Him?

Are you willing to lay aside everything that competes with your love and devotion for Christ? As you live day by day, moment by moment, do you make knowing Him the top priority in your life?

If someone were to ask you, "Who is Jesus Christ?" what would you say? Would you simply provide the facts as you know them —He is the Son of God, Savior, virgin-born, crucified, buried, and risen again? Or could you share with this person an understanding of Jesus Christ that was the result of an intimate relationship with Him?

It's impossible to be passionate about someone we don't know. So how do you get to know someone? Spend time with them. In this case, read and study God's Word for it is in the scriptures where God has revealed to us an intimate portrait of Himself. Meditate on His Words of truth. Spend time in prayer and in worship of Christ. Go beyond just asking Him for things; be alone with Him to talk and listen, even if at first it seems as though He is saying nothing. He is listening, I promise.
If you want a passion to know Him that supercedes every other desire, you must be willing to lay aside anything in your life that competes with your love, loyalty, and devotion to Him. As a believer, you cannot live in deliberate sin and know Christ; our life must be in complete submission to His lordship.

Did you know that as a believer of Jesus Christ, He is living on the inside of you in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? Did you know that you have the supernatural power of God available to you? Did you know that you can know Him in a far greater and more intimate way than the superficial relationship for which many believers settle? It's true! Tell the Lord that today you want to begin to truly know Him - that you want a passion for God. My friend, your life is about to get exciting.

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart