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Loud and Passionate

by os hawkins Devotionals Daily
Loud and Passionate

When we view the invitation to come to Jesus through the lens of the Greek text, it is passionately expressive:

If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. — John 7:37

The wording of the original text indicates this is a rather loud and deeply emotional outburst. Jesus was not speaking softly here. What amazes me is that we should even need this urging and that He should have to give it! Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t the tables be turned here?

Shouldn’t you and I be the ones pleading with Him to allow us to come? And yet it is Jesus who passionately pleads for us to come to Him!

I wonder who the thirsty ones are across the world right now. Some of us have tried so desperately to quench the thirst within our souls with the things this world offers — the new car, that certain someone, or any of a thousand other things. Yet it seems the more we have, the thirstier we become. Could it be that Jesus is opening your eyes to the reality that the something you think you need is really Someone?

Code Word: LOUD

Today, when you hear a loud voice or loud music, let it remind you that Jesus is standing before you, speaking with the most authoritative voice you have ever heard, looking at you with the most penetrating eyes you have ever seen, and pleading with you to come to Him.

Passion Proclamation

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. — Revelation 22:17

Lord, forgive me for thinking the things this world offers could ever truly satisfy. The something I have been searching for is really Someone… You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Excerpted with permission from The Passion Code by O. S. Hawkins, copyright Dr. O. S. Hawkins.

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Your Turn

Are you thirsty? What calls for your attention? What awakens your thirst? Let’s turn our eyes to Jesus today instead and let Him fill us and soothe our thirst. Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

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O. S. Hawkins
About the Author: O. S. Hawkins

O. S. Hawkins is president and chief executive officer of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. GuideStone serves more than 250,000 individual participants from churches, missionary organizations, colleges and universities, hospitals, and other nonprofit institutions with their financial and benefit service needs. GuideStone Funds is the largest Christian-based mutual fund in the world with assets under management of over 20 billion dollars. Prior to the beginning of his tenure at GuideStone in 1997, Hawkins served as senior pastor of the historic First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas (1993--1997) and as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (1978--1993) as well as earlier pastorates in Oklahoma.

Hawkins, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, earned the Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He also earned the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, he holds the Doctorate of Literature degree from Liberty University (Hon.) as well as several other honorary doctorate degrees.

He has been married to his wife, the former Susan Cavness of Austin, Texas, since 1970. They have two daughters, Wendy and Holly, both of whom are also graduates of TCU. Wendy is married to Brian Hermes and Holly is married to David Shivers. The Hawkins’s also have six grandchildren.

Dr. Hawkins is the author of over 40 books including the best-selling “Code Series” with over two million in print, including The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses every Believer Should Know, The Jesus Code: 52 Scripture Questions Every Believer Should Answer, and The Bible Code: Finding Jesus in Every Book in the Bible.

Follow O. S. Hawkins on Twitter @OSHawkins. For free videos, podcasts, and book downloads, visit www.oshawkins.com.