52 Weeks of ForwardSample

Misplaced Passion

By Pastor DJ Oquist

"Looking this way and that seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand" Exodus 2:12 (NIV)

Have you ever seen someone upset about something on social media? Maybe you have even been that person. Not every rant is terrible, but if we’re not careful, the thing we are so passionate about can take on a (destructive) life of its own.

The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites for hundreds of years, and although Moses had grown up in Pharaoh’s palace, he knew the Israelites were his people. After seeing an Egyptian beat a Hebrew, he couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. Moses was passionate about his people; he just went about it the wrong way.

Passion is God-given. We can usually tell right away whether a person is passionate about something. It’s a passion that we want to help lead us to our future careers. Maybe you have heard the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” So wherever that passion is, we need to know what to do with it.

Maybe you’re passionate about a relationship, politics, a job, or a cause. Lean into that passion, but make sure you point it in the right direction. Whether it’s voicing your frustrations online or speaking harshly to someone, unbecoming behaviors won’t get us to our goal. The passion is good; the action we take because of it isn’t always. Take Moses, for example. Years later, instead of continuing to express his passion in murderous ways, he listened to God and became dependent on His guidance, then God used him to lead his fellow Israelites out of Egypt.

I wonder how God wants to use the passion He has given you. It’s there for a reason. In God’s hands, it can be a powerful tool to impact the world around you. Today, when passion arises, and you want to do something about it, first thank God for it, then ask Him what He wants you to do with it.

MOVING FORWARD

Make a list of areas of passion and gifts within you. Then take a moment to ask God what your next steps should be.