Passion 2019 Reading Plan Sample

If You're not in it

Then I don’t want it

Let all else fade away 

Take the whole world

But give me Jesus

Let all else fade away 

- Fade Away 

To be honest, those aren’t easy words to sing unless we understand Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:39: “All who seek to live apart from Me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for My sake and surrender it all to Me will discover true life!” 

It seems backward but it’s in surrendering every part of our lives to Jesus that we discover true life. Why? Because we weren’t created to follow a cause, we were created to know a Person. We were created by and for Jesus. “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:17)

When God clarifies our vision and Jesus comes into focus, the rest of the picture becomes auxiliary. God has given each of us gifts, talents and desires that if stewarded with excellence bring us joy and point people to Jesus. But it’s when Jesus becomes our treasure that everything else fades away, and we are able to say with Paul, “Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him“ (Philippians 3:8 MSG). 

Then, and only then does Isaiah 26:8 begin to take root in our hearts, “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and Your renown are the desire of our souls.” Let this be true of us. Jesus, You are the treasure! 

By Melodie Malone