Passion

The past few weeks have been filled with passion for soccer! The 2010 World Cup was watched all over the world, including in our home. Many conversations started or centered around the World Cup.
It made me think, ‘So much passion! What am I so passionate about? What should I devote so much time and energy to?’
It reminded me of the story of Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, who was the leader of the Moravian missions movement in the 1700s. He was born a statesman in Germany in 1700, and came to know Christ at the age of four. "Already in my childhood," he said, " I loved the Savior, and had abundant communion with Him.” He reminisced that by 6 years of age, “A thousand times I heard Him speak in my heart, and saw Him with the eye of faith."
Count von Zinzendorf sheltered religious refugees on his large estate, and over the years they developed into a large Christian community. From a revival in 1727, a spiritual awakening and passion was developed for the Great Commission and for prayer. This Moravian community sent out thousands of missionaries even before William Carey, “the Father of Modern Missions”, went to India in 1793. The Moravian church also launched a 100-year prayer chain – an uninterrupted chain that without a doubt provided an impetus for the ripple of missions work that still continues around the world today.
Count von Zinzendorf’s most quoted words are: “I have one passion; it is Jesus, Jesus only.” His life bears evidence to this fact, both in his personal relationship with Christ, and in his outward expression and support of God’s work around the world.
I find his story so inspiring and encouraging. His life had a lasting impact because his heart’s passion was centered on Christ.
Again I ask, “What am I so passionate about?”
I have been thinking and praying about it a lot, and I am excited to see how God answers.