I admire Peter’s fire and zeal, his ‘all in’ attitude in the book of Acts.
One example is Acts 5:29-32, But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
What a turnaround for Peter, he had denied Jesus just before His crucifixion, but then throughout Acts we see him fully restored, renewed, bold and passionate for Jesus.
When was the last time you were around someone who was on fire for Jesus? Their passion spilt out of them; they just wanted to talk about Him and cause others to know Him. They may even have inspired you to go harder after God. It’s so refreshing to be around such people.
Now let me ask you when was the last time you felt on fire for Jesus? Of course, different personalities express themselves in different ways, which is actually great for the body of Christ to have so many different ways to reach people. But outward expressiveness doesn’t always equal passion for Jesus, although a person’s heart, tells a story.
Now, only you can answer, how is your heart? When was your heart last ‘all in’ for Jesus, passionate after Him, hungry for more of Him, desperate for His presence?
Let’s go further, what does your heart long for? Is the goal of your life more than anything to become more like Jesus, amid all the wonderful things you are involved in? Or after these last few years, does your heart long for something else? In just making it through these past few years, have we become disconnected from His heart and more focused on our own? Have we pulled back a bit in our pursuit of Jesus? Have we grown cold in our passion for reaching the lost?
No doubt things have been difficult, and many have faltered. But let me ask you, as I ask myself how burdened are you for the mission for Jesus? To, “Go and make disciples of all nations”, Matthew 28:19
There is a battle going on over the human heart in which the enemy seeks to seduce us with many little things that pull our devotion away from single-heartedness to God.
It’s not too late to change, refocus, repent and come back to our first love. What we saturate ourselves in is important.
It is good to look at our inlets and outlets and bring them before the throne of grace for an honest and holy assessment.
Jesus, the more we see You, the more we become like You. The more we radiate You and Your love, the more You are seen. When You are seen, and You are lifted up, You will draw all people to Himself. We repent of apathy and ask that You would saturate us afresh with the Holy Spirit and the mission of Jesus in the days we are living in. Oh God, fill us afresh with fire and desire for You. Amen.