Following Jesus With Passion

There are many things that can get our attention in this world.  There are many things that we pursue.  We strive to get a good education and we try to land that great job that we always dreamt of having.  We pursue money, fame, friends, a girlfriend or boyfriend, and we even pursue a career.  There are many other things that we can pursue I suppose, but shouldn't we pursue Jesus first.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing the things I mentioned early, but I wonder where does our pursuit of Jesus stack up.  Jesus showed His love for us by dying on the Cross so we can have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in Heaven when we die.  The Holy Spirit pursued us and convicted us of our sin and helped us realize our need for Jesus.  The Lord loves us so very passionately and unconditionally.  Shouldn't believers in Christ love Him first and foremost with the same passion that He has for us.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23,

"...If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesus wants us to follow Him while denying ourselves.  He is looking for believers that love Him so much that they are willing to do what He wants them to do and go where He wants them to go.  He won't force people to follow Him.  He wants people who are so in love with Him that there is nothing else in their lives that matters more. 

That is not to say that the other things don't matter or aren't important because they are, but in the scope of things our love for Jesus needs to be larger and greater.  When our love for Jesus is stirred up and we are following Him full on then everything else will fall into place.  We may have to surrender things in our lives that used to be important to us.  We may have to not take that job.  We may have to forsake that career.  Following Jesus won't be easy,  but if we truly love Him as He loves us then in the end it will all be worth it.

Lord,
We praise Your Name.
Sometimes Lord I confess my love for You cools off.
My passion for  serving You seems lukewarm
Stir up a love in my heart O Lord to love You as You love me.
You demonstrated Your love for us on the Cross.
You pursued us because You love us.
We love You Lord Jesus.
I love You Lord Jesus and can't wait until the Day I see You face to face.
Thank You Jesus for loving me so deeply and passionately that You never give up on me.
Thank You Jesus for all believers in Christ who love You so much
Come soon Lord Jesus.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen.