Identifying your passion is a matter of figuring out what drives you, what pulls you, what captures your imagination. It's almost as though you can't help but give it your attention.
God has a passion for the renewal of life and the reconciliation of all God has made. When a person gets close to the fire of that which drives God, it can set that person aflame.
Be careful now as you spend these next moments with God. It is altogether possible that you will feel a holy heat.
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John 2:13-17
What’s your temple? A temple is someplace where God has met you and you have marked it as holy ground. A temple can be a place, an experience, a relationship, a community, a memory, a tradition, a dream, a passion.
Picture your temple. Now imagine inviting Jesus inside. What does he see? No doubt he sees good stuff in there — all your acts of love and generosity and courage.
Chances are he sees other things, too. Maybe he smells staleness in the air because it’s been a while since you let in the fresh winds of the Spirit. Maybe he trips over the clutter of a too-full schedule, or burns his arm on your too-hot anger.
As much as you love your temple, Jesus loves it even more. So when you see him walking up your driveway with the “J.C. Cleaning Company” logo on his overalls, let him in.
Julie Pennington-Russell
Lord, I open the door of my temple to you. Come in and confront and cleanse all the things that are blocking your best dreams for my life. Thank you for love that makes all things new. Amen.
Therefore,
Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
Let us give thanks,
By which we offer to God an acceptable worship
With reverence and awe;
For indeed our God is
A consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29