June 27 - The Power of Passion

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Pursue the whole will of God - wholeheartedly!

It’s my birthday today and I feel good. In fact, I feel stronger than I’ve felt in years. Having had a couple years to recover physically, emotionally, and, most of all, spiritually has rejuvenated me. One of the factors has been restoring my time of daily Bible reading and praying God’s Word into my everyday life. It’s true, all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (3:16,17).

Today I saw how important it is not just to read God’s Word and to know God’s will, but to passionately pursue it. The first clue was the unusual test Elisha gave Jehoash, King of Israel. He told the king to strike the ground with the arrows but Jehoash only half-heartedly struck the ground three times. If he had responded to God’s Word with passion he would have completely routed his enemies (13:18,19).

The second clue was the description of Amaziah, King of Judah: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash (14:3). If you’ll remember, David was a man who passionately pursued God’s heart; Joash waffled in the face of public opinion. The parallel passage gives us some more insight: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly (25:2).

“Lord, I ask for more than just instruction from Your Word about Your will for my life. I ask that my heart will passionately pursue Your heart and that my will will match Your will.”  Three “wills” in one sentence - now that’s will power!