Then they entered into a covenant to
seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors,
with all their heart and soul.

They agreed that anyone who refused to
seek the LORD, the God of Israel,
would be put to death–whether
young or old, man or woman.

2 Chronicles 15:9,12-13 – NLT
 

Asa was a good king.

He did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord.
The prophet Azariah encouraged him to continue to seek the Lord.

So Asa took it to heart and took it to the people.

Unfortunately in his zeal — Asa resorted to coercing people into the kingdom.

Sometimes we see people we love or minister to not
walking as they ought.

In our passion for God — we want them to live righteously.
We want better for them.

But if we try and pressure people into the kingdom and
force or scare them into righteousness  — at best,
we contribute to their hypocrisy.

It’s not by might, power, legislation, guilt,  or dropping hints that
a man or woman will be redeemed — It’s by the blood of Jesus Christ
and the power of the Holy Spirit that this work will be accomplished.

There is a way to ignite passion in our loved ones though.

Word got out in the Northern kingdom of Israel that King Asa down in
Judah was a righteous king.

All of a sudden, people began to stream out of Israel into Judah because
of what they had heard about Asa.

You see — Passion breeds Passion.

If you want your wife, kids, neighbors, friends — the people you
minister to or work with, to be passionate about the Lord —
YOU must be passionate about Him.

It’s infectious, it’s attractive, it’s eye-opening.

Regardless of his misdirected zeal — Asa was right.
A lack of passion always leads to death.

Death of the soul.
Death of any fruitfulness in your life.
Death of Joy.

If we are to preserve the quality and quantity
of our lives — we must seek to be passionate about the Lord.

Practically — again, Asa had the right idea.

To gather together and covenant with God and each other
to seek Him wholeheartedly.

The American in me —
tends to think of my relationship with God
as extremely personal.
Just between me and Him.

In reality — this is a foolish way to operate.

What would happen if we gathered together with a friend
and made a covenant agreement to be passionate about the Lord.

How is you passion for the Lord?

Is it strong, or has it waned?

Meet together with the Lord and with each other.

Let us spur each other on to Love and good works and
Passion for Jesus.