Pure Passion.

In Sunday’s sermon Pastor Cole shared, “No heart is pure that is not passionate.” When we have experienced Christian purification, then we respond with a passion and zeal in serving Christ. Pastor Cole made the important point that purification does not lead to legalism, but rather moves us to unbridled enthusiasm in doing the work of the Lord.

This is a particular challenge at Bronx Bethany. It’s very easy to pull together a group of people to get work done. But it’s not as easy to pull together a group of people that are passionate about the work they’re doing. Pastor Cole used the apropos example of choir members who come to rehearsals not because they are passionate about ministering for the glory of God, but because they feel the music director is nagging them into participation. So they are present, they are singing, but without passion or enthusiasm for the God who gave them the ability to sing. It’s pure legalism.

As was mentioned in the sermon, it is never a good thing to work for the Lord out of a sense of legalism. The Scripture shows us that legalistic service earns no commendation from God. It is, as Pastor Sam mentioned some years ago in his sermon on Psalm 50, “empty works.” All the tithing and giving in the world, all the service we can render in the house of God, is in vain if the King of Glory has not won our hearts.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me: all His wonderful passion and purity.
O Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine ’til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. (Albert Orsborne)

Amen.