Prior to the shut down of indoor dining due to Covid restrictions, I was sitting in Starbucks on day enjoying a vanilla latte and going over my sermon notes. A man sat down at the table next to me and said hello. He seemed interested in talking so I turned to listen to the guy. It didn’t take him long to get to the real reason he wanted to talk. He asked me if I was interested in making some extra money and went into a presentation for the Amway company. I had heard the pitch before by others, but I let him continue. The man was passionate, excited, bold, and enthusiastic as he shared the opportunity that could change my life.=He then asked me what I did for work. I told him I was a pastor and I was able to pivot the conversation to spiritual things and invited him to church.He finally left in search of his next potential Amway recruit. I sat and reflected on the half hour conversation. I marveled at the boldness of this man to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. What made him do it? What caused him to take such initiative?  Then it hit me. The man had passion.Isn’t it true that we love to talk about things we are passionate about? Whether it’s your kids, grandkids, travel, restaurants, sports, gardening, or hobbies. It’s so easy to talk about these things. We readily show complete strangers photos and talk with ease. Why? We have passion.Can I ask you a question? Are you passionate about Jesus?In Acts 4, Peter and John had been arrested for preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus. The religious leaders of the day called them in and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Their response is found in verses 19 and 20: “But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”We live in a culture that tells us we cannot talk with others about Jesus. We’ve been told to stay silent. Faith and religion are personal. You are not supposed to tell others. It’s offensive. Who do you think you are to tell someone else what you believe?So let me ask you? Will you respond as Peter and John? “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard?I honestly believe that if we are passionate about Jesus, we will speak up and we will tell others. We cannot be silent about the one who went to the cross and paid the awful price so we could go free.If a scientist had the cure to cancer but kept it to herself and didn’t share it, we would all believe that her silence would be a crime against humanity. But imagine we know the good news about how sins can be forgiven, hell can be avoided, and heaven can be gained…what if we knew that amazing truth and yet kept silent?So, what do we do if we have lost our passion for Jesus. First, we must remember. We remember who He is and what He has done for us. We remember the great sacrifice Jesus paid on our behalf. We remember who we were before we experienced his grace and his love. We remember all the prayers He has answered. We remember how good God has been to us. Second, we learn to abide with Jesus. John 15:4 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”I believe a passion for Jesus is a fruit of a close and abiding relationship with Jesus. As we remember and as we abide, a new passion for the savior will emerge in our hearts.Today’s Challenge: In prayer evaluate your relationship with Christ. Are you passionate? Do you tell others about Him? Take time today to remember Jesus. Begin a practice of abiding with him on a daily basis. I believe the passion will return.

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