Rediscovering the Passion

“So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:8-9 NLT)

Spiritual revival can be compared to a romance between a man and a woman. Guys know that when you first take a girl out, you want to make a good impression on her. So, you shower, make sure your shirt is clean, and show her great respect. Maybe you open the car door for her. You pull out her chair at a restaurant—a nice French restaurant.

But when you get married, things change. You still open the car door for her, but you close it before she’s all the way in. And the closest thing to a French restaurant that you take her to now is Jacque in the Box or Le Golden Arches. Something has happened. The passion has slipped away. You’re no longer making the effort.

That reminds me of a story I heard about a woman who wanted to divorce her husband. She told her attorney, “I want this divorce to hurt him badly. I want him to feel as much pain as possible.”

The attorney said, “Here’s how to do it. For the next three months, smother your husband with affection. Compliment him constantly. Tell him what a great guy he is and how much you care for him. Then, when he’s feeling on top of the world, drop the divorce papers on him. He won’t know what hit him. He’ll be devastated when you walk out.” 

The woman agreed to the plan. For the next three months she complimented her husband, affirmed him, and told him how much she loved and appreciated him. When the three months ended, her attorney called her and said, “All right, let’s get this divorce started.”

The woman said, “Divorce? We’re going on our second honeymoon.” By committing to the relationship as God intends, the woman unwittingly ignited the flames of passion again.

Similarly, when believers commit to the Christian life as God intends—by studying Scripture, immersing ourselves in prayer, getting involved in a church, and sharing our faith—we fuel the fire of revival in ourselves and others.