Tag: God

Our Lives & Our Passions

ContributorLeave a comment

I have not written a blog post in months! Possibly because I have been busy or perhaps procrastination had more to do with it. Oh well. This morning I read in the news about Pakistan’s Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti who was shot dead in Islamabad. Mr Bhatti was assassinated for his fight for a reform to blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

This news saddened me greatly firstly because he is human like every one of us who has been killed unjustly and also because I had heard him at a conference about 3 years ago. It was clear he was passionate about his cause and was willing to give his life for it. We all as well as himself knew he would some day. However we did not know when. I definitely hoped it would not be so soon.

This event got me thinking about 2 things:

Could this have been avoided? From the BBC News report, “he had complained about not being given extra protection in spite of the obvious threats he faced”. How come he was not adequately protected? Then I wondered about him and those around him – were they praying for his safety and wellbeing knowing the dangers he faced daily? When can you say you have prayed enough anyway? I know that God answers prayers and it is by His grace that we live on. Perhaps his death is all in the plan…I only know in part but I prefer people alive and fighting on rather than as martyrs. This is my preference, God knows best. Just some of the questions I had racing through my mind.

Secondly I asked myself “are you so passionate about anything, enough to be willing to give your life for it?” I believe this is passion in its highest form. Should we even develop and embrace this sort of passion? Christ was passionate about people. His love for man cost Him His life.

Where is my passion? Where is yours? I believe passion defines us and adds colour to our lives. It gives us something to live and if possible die for. This may sound somewhat morbid but the truth is this: passion births results. Every dream, value, goal and cause requires zeal, seriousness, focus and some form of sacrifice. Without these, they will eventually die. I believe Mr Bhatti was dead (in the sense of it) before he was actually killed. I doubt he would have continued in his fight had he not resolved to lay fear, doubt, complacency and the other things that usually keep us from moving toward our desired goals and expectations. In his own words (I paraphrase), he was ready to die for his cause – for the lives of minority faiths in his country.

I am not saying that whatever you believe in would cost you your life, rather that whatever you believe in or are aiming for, be passionate about it. Fight for it, run with zeal, encourage yourself, be courageous then watch the sown seeds of desire, watered by your hard-work sprout, grow and birth fruit.

I pray that God will provide comfort for the family and friends of Mr Bhatti. I hope this would bring about the change he gave his life for. May the Prince of peace dwell in all of our hearts.

Be passionate x

Related Articles

That we may comfort others…

ContributorLeave a comment

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:1-7

I read this scripture some days ago and I was blessed by what I understood from it. Thought it was worth sharing. You see there are some experiences we have in life from which we learn so much that we may have not learnt otherwise. We also receive comfort from God in a specific way. We may learn not to speak in a certain way, what it feels like to be treated in particular ways, or how it feels to be in some situations, etc.

I realised recently that God did not really understand man’s struggle with sin and life until He became a Man Himself. It was not until after Christ’s years on earth that He became our Intercessor. Before this, God simply saw a rebellious and unrighteous bunch of people. No wonder Jesus declared “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” He finally understood.

Have you discovered lately how you are surrounded with some people who are passing through some of the things you have been through or those things that you are probably still going through but managing to stay on top? I believe it’s simple because no one else can help or understand these folks the way you can.

He’s teaches us so we may know and understand what it is to be a student. This way you are in a better position to help other students.  The days He’s wrapped His arms around you, its to prepare you to open your arms to someone else in future. Basically, the love we have received today is so we can show the same love to another in similar position.

He instructed the children of Israel to be kind and compassionate to strangers…” for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” Deut 10:19. So today, I’d like to challenge us to count our past and likely present blessings and grace received and to extend the same to one close-by who is deeply in need of some form of comfort.

– Arielle xx