I was contemplating the danger of living passively. The dictionary meaning of passivity is “the acceptance of what happens, without active response.”
Far too often we do accept what happens in life with very little response. Where we should stand up we don’t. Where we should shout and resist evil, sickness, and lack of any kind we don’t. Where we should speak out, far too often we don’t. We live passively; not wanting to make too much fuss, allowing ourselves to come “under circumstances” instead of rising above them.
There is an account of a woman in the bible who had been unwell for many years. She had spent all her money trying to find a cure, and had become a social outcast. However this woman never gave up her hope of being healed, because when she heard of Jesus coming to her town she made sure she was right there amongst the crowd. She was in no way passive in her approach, but instead was determined, desperate and persistent. She seized hold of Jesus and took what she needed, and as a result she was instantly and radically healed.
“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His (Jesus’) garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
“And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him[a] said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)
This woman needed a breakthrough and she received it not because she sat back and waited passively for it to come to her, but because she seized it by force. She pushed her way though the throngs of people all pressing to be near to Jesus until she was able to reach out and touch him.
Matthew 11:12 has an interesting piece of scripture in it. It says, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”
The violent take it by force? The original Greek meaning of the word violent men and force is that the “violent” are those of eager, impetuous zeal, who grasp the kingdom of heaven. They grasp hold of heaven’s peace, pardon, and blessing and they grab hold of it with as much eagerness as those who would snatch and carry off the spoil of a conquered city. This is what the woman with the issue of blood did. She grabbed hold of the kingdom of Heaven that Jesus brought to earth, and she took it by force.
There are times when living passively can get you killed, stolen from and stomped on, because that is exactly what the devil and his demons are out to do. (John 10:10) When we are facing a battle, whether it is relationship problems, strife, sickness, lack or anything that looks, smells and talks like the devil it is imperative that we put all passivity aside. It is imperative that we ask God to fill us with his love, strength and power so that we will have boldness, eagerness and zeal to resist every thing that is not from God and instead take hold of all that is ours in Jesus.
Now is not the time for passivity, or to have the approach of “whatever is God’s will” prayers. If you don’t know His will and understand how to claim and declare it boldly and with passion and zeal, then find out! Open up a bible and discover for yourself what God’s will and purpose is, and then do as the woman with the issue of blood did, and grab hold of it with everything you’ve got.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8)
“Put on the full armour of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Prayer: Jesus please fill me with your love, power, passion and zeal. I don’t want to be beaten up, stolen from or pushed around by the devil any longer. Today I choose to put aside passivity and take hold of all that you have given me through your finished work on the cross. In Jesus name Amen.
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