"MISGUIDED PASSION"

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” 

Acts 9:1-2

Have you ever poured your heart and soul into something, only to realize way down the road that you were fighting the completely wrong battle?

Living in Canada for more than four years has helped me admire Canadians even more. You guys throw yourselves fully into whatever you do. Whether you're cheering our lungs out for your favorite hockey team, putting in long hours to build a solid future for your families, or going all-in on a project you believe in, you do things with all you've got. 

But a real problem arises when we pour all our time, energy, and focus into something, only to discover our passion was pointed in the wrong direction. It’s a sobering realization when our most sincere efforts pull us away from where we actually need to be.

Imagine hopping into your vehicle, determined to make a crucial appointment in the big city on a whiteout day. You throw it in drive, white-knuckle an hour down a long stretch of snowy gravel backroad and hours more on the slippery highway, pushing through the snow, only to spot a landmark and realize you took the wrong fork miles ago. No matter how committed you were to the drive or how much effort you put in, your passion without the right direction only carried you further away. Passion without proper direction is a recipe for disaster.

Saul of Tarsus was exactly like that passenger on the wrong route. If there were a religious award for sheer dedication, Saul would have won it effortlessly. He was arguably the most dedicated, educated religious leader of his generation, personally mentored by the great Gamaliel. He had a strict upbringing and an unshakable commitment to his traditions. Yet he used all that God-given drive to actively fight against God’s unfolding plan. He genuinely believed that by eliminating the early Christians, he was doing God a massive favor.

The New Testament calls this dangerous state "zeal without knowledge." In our daily lives, it is incredibly easy to fall into this exact same trap. We can become so fiercely committed to our own theological opinions, political stances, or personal agendas that we completely miss the heart of Jesus. God is inviting us to surrender our passions to His wisdom today. He wants our zeal, but anchored in His love and grace.

Thankfully, Paul realized his error and did a 180:

12 "I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 1:12-14

Where in your life might you be operating with passion but without God's direction, and how can you completely surrender that zeal to Him today?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Aaron Simpson on Unsplash