Developing a Real Passion for Christ ny Pastor Mike Jarboe
Some years ago Becky and I had the opportunity to spend our anniversary in Rome and
we also got to attend a Papal Audience. This Papal Audience was identified to me as an intimate
audience, smaller in nature than the typical throngs that go to see the Pope in the Vatican square.
Well, we went and I was amazed. There were more than 5000 people at this audience in a huge
auditorium and the Pope does several of these a week. According to some people that I asked, the room is always full to standing room only with throngs hungry to hear the Pope share what amounts to as about a 10 minute talk. Becky and I did get to shake hands with the Pope and he did talk to me first in Italian and then in English. Fascinating how many languages John Paul II could speak with a degree of fluency. A neat experience to be sure.
Thinking about all those people just trying to get tickets to get in, I’m quite amazed. Many of these people aren’t Catholic. Becky and I weren’t. They stumble over themselves to pile into a crowded room to catch a glimpse of the man. It’s got all the potential of being a stampede if not carefully orchestrated by the staff at the Vatican. Those colorful Swiss Guard uniforms helped.
Though the Pope is a powerful figure in world politics and in the affairs of the religious community, do you ever wonder why so many people make a heroic effort with real fire in their eyes and a sense of urgency in their step just to see him. If you think about it, we can have an audience with his Boss, the creator of everything, the Lord of our Life, our Savior and King at virtually any time we want. Maybe such easy access to God affects us. Maybe distractions keep us from getting fired up like we should. I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that I really want to have a burning hunger about my time with God. I want it to be something that I just can’t wait to do—spend time alone or corporately with my Heavenly Father. And just like I jockeyed for position to shake John Paul’s hand, I should fight through however many hours it takes in prayer, praise and worship just to get a touch from God. A passion for Christ may just give us the answers we are looking for. It may just be the catalyst to a Last Days revival. Let the fire rise within you!
we also got to attend a Papal Audience. This Papal Audience was identified to me as an intimate
audience, smaller in nature than the typical throngs that go to see the Pope in the Vatican square.
Well, we went and I was amazed. There were more than 5000 people at this audience in a huge
auditorium and the Pope does several of these a week. According to some people that I asked, the room is always full to standing room only with throngs hungry to hear the Pope share what amounts to as about a 10 minute talk. Becky and I did get to shake hands with the Pope and he did talk to me first in Italian and then in English. Fascinating how many languages John Paul II could speak with a degree of fluency. A neat experience to be sure.
Thinking about all those people just trying to get tickets to get in, I’m quite amazed. Many of these people aren’t Catholic. Becky and I weren’t. They stumble over themselves to pile into a crowded room to catch a glimpse of the man. It’s got all the potential of being a stampede if not carefully orchestrated by the staff at the Vatican. Those colorful Swiss Guard uniforms helped.
Though the Pope is a powerful figure in world politics and in the affairs of the religious community, do you ever wonder why so many people make a heroic effort with real fire in their eyes and a sense of urgency in their step just to see him. If you think about it, we can have an audience with his Boss, the creator of everything, the Lord of our Life, our Savior and King at virtually any time we want. Maybe such easy access to God affects us. Maybe distractions keep us from getting fired up like we should. I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that I really want to have a burning hunger about my time with God. I want it to be something that I just can’t wait to do—spend time alone or corporately with my Heavenly Father. And just like I jockeyed for position to shake John Paul’s hand, I should fight through however many hours it takes in prayer, praise and worship just to get a touch from God. A passion for Christ may just give us the answers we are looking for. It may just be the catalyst to a Last Days revival. Let the fire rise within you!
posted by Pastor Skeens at
9:47 AM
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