Karen and I had CPR training Monday night (and again tonight.) It’s part of our adoption preparation process (one of the final steps as we inch closer to kids!). Needless to say it’s been very interesting…and exhausting. The skill of learning to do CPR and first aid is an important one that I pray I never have to use. [I’m actually having flashbacks from my Boy Scout days!]
As I was driving to work this morning, I was thinking about how passionate the teacher was about CPR and saving lives AND how interested and attentive the 14 of us were as a class. OK, the fact that she mentioned the “T” word (test) probably made a few sit up a little taller and listen a little closer. Anyway, she mixed the theory with the practical in such a way that the 4.5 hours went by pretty quick. I’m sure tonight will be the same…at least I hope!
So, contrast my last paragraph with how unpassionate we, as Christ Followers, can be at times in two areas:
- First, when talking about Christ – and His life-saving. I think at times we are satisfied to leave the “heavy lifting” of proclaiming Christ to the preachers, teachers, and evangelists. The truth is, we are all ministers (preachers, teachers, and evangelists) – we all have a part to play (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27)! Also, I think we have a narrow view of this – thinking that talking about Christ must be all theory. If we are to model ourselves after Christ, He was about theory (it was Him!); but He always presented it in practical ways (remember His parables and other interactions with people). All I’m saying is we proclaim him in all we do – verbal and non-verbal. We might as well – WE MUST – do it passionately!
- Second, how distracted or even disinterested we are at times when listening to others talk about Christ, our life-giver! Do we have an attitude of “I’ve heard this before” when we are at church? Do we check-out when a speaker is not “interesting” or “cool?” HEY…the word of God is being talked about – let’s listen! I realize that if the speaker is not passionate (reference point one), it’s hard. I once heard a speaker say that he tried to find at least one thing in every sermon or talk he heard that was applicable or edifying (this practice would require listening, of course). The power of the Word of God talked about in Hebrews 4:12…Remember, it’s not just that way when the speaker is hip and happening!
I know I have been guilty of these two. How about you…what are your thoughts?
I pray I – we – would be keen to being passionate for Christ!
x
Love the way this song describes how we need to be in relation to point one! “It’s time we took all the lamp shades off!”
DENNARR(dot)COM 