Knowing that you everything God has ever wanted is one of the greatest realities you could ever be intimate with! Many people talk about the love of God and even say, “God loves me” but don’t live as if it’s true. Do you live as if you are the love of God’s life? Do you live your life knowing that he declares you perfect in His sight? Do you know you are completely forgiven? 

One of the telltale signs of genuinely knowing God ardently loves you is a lifestyle of passion towards Him.The more you recognize the love of God, the more you will love him back. Passion is an amazing thing; it causes people to do crazy things, even things that are very wrong.  Take a look at this:

Acts 9:1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord's followers. So, he went to the high priest.

He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them - both men and women - back to Jerusalem in chains. 

This is the picture of a passionate person. With every breath, Paul was passionately pursuing his perceived call, persecuting and even killing Christians. Saul was passionate – just for the wrong thing. Later, however, Saul had an encounter with Jesus Christ and immediately became crazy passionate to help the very ones he was trying to kill. In his passion for Jesus, he was not only willing to be imprisoned for Him but was even willing to lose his life for the sake of Jesus Christ and the gospel.  Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13 

Here’s the big question: What are you incessantly passionate about? A passion like apostle Paul does not come from trying hard. It comes from an encounter with the living God! Therefore, a true passion for God comes from a real revelation of His love and grace! Apostle Paul became a passionate follower of Jesus when he received the revelation of the love of Jesus! Look at apostle Paul’s own words.

2 Corinthians 5:13-15 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore, all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 

Apostle Paul was, in a sense, saying, “if I act like I’m crazy, it’s because I’m passionately moved by the love of God – if I am acting normal, it is because I am mellowing out for you.” This is what I know for sure: Anyone who begins to get a grip on the awesomeness of God’s intense love for us and receives it will be a person who will passionately love God and also will passionately go after this hurting world that needs to know His love!

Yes! Of this I’m sure - when we become saturated with God’s love, we will also be passionate! Oh, how I am looking forward to the day when the body of Christ will, like apostle Paul, be living a life so passionate for God that it is...

WITH EVERY BREATH

If you are blessed by these Encouraging Notes, consider telling your friends and family about www.arthurwilder.com and tell them to click the button  ‘JOIN THE LIST.’ Together, we can make a difference!​