Apostolic Passion

I have been doing some reading tonight for my Perspectives class. Recently I’ve gotten into a bad habit of just searching for the answers in the articles. But tonight was different. I actually read. It’s similar to the difference between listening and hearing. Tonight I actually read not just sounded out words in my head to form cognitive sentences. This one article entitled Apostolic Passion caught my attention.

I think about passion often. I hardly think of being apostolic. But the two ideas were meshed together and it really made a lot of sense.

Apostle – a sent one; a messenger

Passion – referring to how much you are willing to suffer to get something; a deep hunger that will be satisfied no matter the cost

Apostolic passion is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship of Jesus in the nations. Apostolic passion has to do with being committed to the point of death to spreading His glory. It’s the quality of those who are on fire for Jesus, who dream of the whole earth being covered with the glory of the Lord.

Having an apostolic passion means you are dangerous. You are no longer seduced by getting and gaining but to spreading and proclaiming the glory of God in the nations. You live as a pilgrim, unattached to the cares of this world. You are not afraid of loss. You even dare to believe you may be given the privilege of dying to spread His fame on the earth. The Father’s passions have become your passions. You find your satisfaction and significance in Him. You believe He is with you always, to the end of life itself. You are sold out to God, and you live for the Lamb. Your greatest dream is that His name will be praised in languages never before heard in heaven. Your reward is the look of pure delight you anticipate seeing in His eyes when you lay at His feet the just reward of His suffering: the worship of the redeemed.

Where am I not willing to die to myself?

Am I willing to go, but pleased to stay?

Do I really long for the glory of God to spread to all the nations, starting with my home?

Do I have a passion for the glory of God to be revealed in the entire world?

Am I serving my own dreams of greatness?

Am I just waiting to do ‘the next thing’ that God tells me?

Am I an over-fed, under-motivated Christian hiding behind the excuse that God has not spoken to me?

Praying, ‘Lord be ruthless with me in revealing my selfish ambition and my lack of willingness to die to myself.’

Praying that God would continue to grow a sense of apostolic passion in me. I have seen it in me at points and I have seen it in my rearview mirror at other times. I am praying that this would fully describe my life one day - a man on a fiery mission to see God’s glory revealed in all the earth.

Praying that God would raise up an apostolic passion in those around me. I am tired of seeing us be half-hearted, distracted children in our pursuits. Grow us to be men and women who are changing the game.