Digging Deeper: Great Passion
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11
GREAT PASSION
The Oxford Dictionary defines passion as a “strong and barely controllable emotion.” You don’t have to look far to see passionate people. Whether it’s a sports team, a political movement, or even strong opinions about how people should drive in a roundabout, passion is everywhere. If there’s one thing we’re not short on, it’s enthusiasm.
But here’s the kicker: while we can easily get fired up about all kinds of things, many of us struggle to channel that same level of passion into our faith—the kind of passion Paul describes in Romans 12. We know what passion looks like in everyday life, but what does it mean to be passionate in following Jesus? Let’s break it down using Paul’s words.
First, Paul tells us to “never be lacking in zeal.” What’s zeal, exactly? Back to the Oxford Dictionary: it’s “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.”
Next, he says to “keep your spiritual fervor.” Fervor? That’s defined as “an intense and passionate feeling.”
Finally, Paul connects these ideas to serving the Lord.
When you put it all together, it sounds a little like that guy at the football game in subzero weather, completely decked out in body paint and screaming at the top of his lungs. That’s a visual, right? But it’s actually a great picture of what passion in pursuit of a cause can look like.
Now, imagine if we, as believers, harnessed that same energy and enthusiasm—not to be the person on the street corner with a megaphone, but to live out our faith with that level of excitement and commitment. What if we approached being an apprentice of Jesus with the same intensity as body paint guy does for his team?
Too often, we make faith look like a list of rules: the do’s, the don’ts, and the have-nots. Sure, there are boundaries to follow, but we don’t spend enough time highlighting the good that comes from them—the freedom those guardrails provide and the joy we get to experience as followers of Christ.
What if we shared the full picture of faith? The passion. The joy. The freedom. The incredible adventure of following Jesus. Because when we do, faith becomes irresistible—not just for us, but for everyone around us.
Minda Seagraves has been married to her best friend, Russell, for 17 years and is mom to Carson and Maddie. She is also a full-time missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as a chaplain to local female high school teams and supports 380 staff across four states in the U.S. and 20 countries in East Africa as the Regional Director of Talent Advancement with FCA. Minda and her family live in Acworth and have been attending NorthStar Church since 2020.