The word passion comes from the Latin root ‘passio’, meaning to suffer. So when we say we’re passionate about something, what we really mean is we are so gripped by something or someone that we are prepared to suffer for it.
Jesus is the ultimate example of this. The passion of the Christ refers to the sufferings of Jesus through the events leading to and including his crucifixion. He was so passionate about loving people that he was prepared to suffer for us.
Some other examples:
- Martin Luther King suffered persecution, abuse, threats, intimidation, physical violence and ultimately assassination because he was passionate about seeing African Americans treated equally with whites.
- Nelson Mandela suffered imprisonment, hard physical labour and loneliness, all because he was passionate about ending apartheid in South Africa.
- Mother Theresa suffered poverty, misunderstanding, hate mail and more, because she was passionate about providing dignity and love to those whom the rest of society had rejected.
What will you suffer for? The answer to this will go some way towards telling you what God’s vision is for your life. Chances are, you’re prepared to suffer for something you’re also supremely passionate about. What cause are you so passionate about that you’re prepared to suffer for it.
Mark Williamson works as a director of One Rock. He’s a lay preacher and leader within the Methodist Church, author of a biography on John Wesley, and has a biography on William Wilberforce coming out in summer 2014. He enjoys good films, good food, praying for London, and going for long walks with his wife Joanna. You can follow him on Twitter @markraynespark.