NIV Leadership Bible Reading PlanSample

Purpose and Passion

Paul accomplished an astounding amount in two decades of ministry. What made him tick? What drove him to carry out the work that he did? Today's passage explodes with Paul's passion for his calling. Effective leaders like Paul are those who have figured out what they stand for. They have identified their purpose and pursue it with a passion.

Before his dramatic conversion (see Acts 9), Paul followed a different purpose in life. As a member of the Pharisees, Paul had attained the highest levels of standing. He could have boasted about his religious training, heritage and practice. He had been in very sense a "Hebrew of Hebrews," and his credentials would have impressed the most devoted Jew. Yet Paul considered all he had attained through religious effort to be garbage when compared with the value of knowing Christ. Paul was more than happy to throw away all he had attained in order to know Christ.

Paul preached that in Christ he and all believers possess all the righteousness of God. And because of the infinite worth of knowing Christ, Paul devoted his life to knowing the Savior. That was his purpose and his passion. And that purpose shaped all he did and influenced all he led.

What's your purpose, your passion, the one thing that you stand for above all else? Take a look at Paul's statements again and see how your purpose in life stacks up against his.