The goal of Scripture is an intensely personal love for Jesus possessing you whole being. The goal of redemption is your love-relationship, your love-life with Jesus. Christian living is living in love with Jesus. Prayer communion is looking lovingly into Jesus' eyes, thrilling to Jesus' voice, resting in Jesus' arms.
Christ's passionate lovers have bejeweled the history and heritage of the church. No Christian is greater than his love. Few today realize the intense devotion to Christ in the early church and in our sainted martyrs. The Holy Spirit can develop in us just as ardent devotion as He did in those days.
A. W. Tozer once said, "The great of the kingdom has been those who loved God more than others did." Those who have really looked into the face of Jesus cannot but be captivate by His love. Too often our love for Jesus is sadly impersonal. We believe in His Person, we worship His Person, but we relate to Him far too impersonally. There is too much distance, a tragic remoteness in our fellowship. True, He is our infinitely holy God and we are but sin-deformed creatures before Him. He is our Sovereign King, and we bow before His majesty. But He is also our Savior who loved us with such everlasting love that He forsook heaven's throne to become the incarnate Son of Man, to die for us, to redeem us for Himself and make us the special and eternal object of His love. Indeed, He came to make us collectively His bride and personally His beloved. Let's humble ourselves before Him. Let's confess how cool and casual we too often have been in our expression of love to Him. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to give us a new baptism of love for Jesus. We need the Spirit's help to love, Jesus as we should. Perhaps we have had too little of the Spirit's fullness to enable us to love with the personal ardor Jesus desires.
All other passions build upon or flow from your passion for Jesus. A passion for souls grows out of a passion for Christ. A passion for missions builds upon a passion for Christ. When Hudson Taylor was once asked what was the greatest incentive to missionary work, he instantly replied, "Love of Christ." William Booth's passion for helping the underprivileged, the derelicts of society, and for world evangelization was built upon his passion for Christ. The most crucial danger to a Christian, whatever his role, is to lack a passion of Christ. The most direct route to personal renewal and new effectiveness is a new all-consuming passion for Jesus. Lord, give us this passion, whatever the cost!
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Wesley Duewel (1916 - 2016)
Dr. Wesley Duewel has given himself to the cause of missions for the past 68 years. Following ministry in India for nearly 25 years, he served as president of One Mission Society (1969-1982). He is now President Emeritus and special assistant to the president for evangelism and intercession. His writings on the Holy Spirit, revival, and soul winning call God’s people back to prayer, the source of all power and passion for ministry. His hundreds of poems and all of his books express his hunger and passion. His book Touch the World Through Prayer, published in 1986, is now in its 36th printing. Later books, Let God Guide You Daily; Ablaze for God; Mighty Prevailing Prayer; Measure Your Life; God’s Great Salvation; Revival Fire; God’s Power Is for You; More God, More Power; and his latest book, Heroes of the Holy Life, are also widely acclaimed. Nearly 2.5 million of his books are now in circulation in 58 languages or national editions around the world. Several international editions are also in process.Recognized as an authority on missions, Dr. Duewel served for 16 years on the board of directors of the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies of which he was president from 1969-1972, 19 years on the North American Board of the World Evangelical Fellowship, 20 years on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, and a life trustee of Asbury Theological Seminary. During his years in India, Dr. Duewel followed closely the development of postwar independent India. He was prominent in leadership of the North India Christian Literature Society, as well as the Bible Society of India. He helped spearhead the Evangelical Fellowship of India and was serving as its president when he was transferred from India.
Wesley Duewel, is a former president of OMS International. A missionary to India for 25 years, Dr. Duewel is also the author of Ablaze for God, Mighty Prevailing Prayer, More God, More Power, and Revival Fire.