PASSION!

And yesterday, India won the Cricket World Cup 2011! What a game!

Sudhir Kumar Gautam is cricket’s most recognizable fan. He is the face of “passion.” Passionate about cricket and, in particular, about Sachin Tendulkar. He is easily spotted, in every international game played anywhere in India. This 30-year-old, cricket-obsessed guy spends hours before matches painting his face and trunk in the tricolors of the Indian flag: saffron, white, and green. And two words—“India” and “Tendulkar”—along with the number of his icon, 10 (“ten” for “Tendulkar,” the number the maestro wears). And he carries a conch shell that he keeps blowing at auspicious moments during the game. Cameramen everywhere know this guy. In every game they pan in on Gautam and give him a few seconds of fame. In every game. And yesterday was no exception!

He is the mascot of Indian cricket and devotee of Tendulkar. What a fan. Passion! From his hometown in the state of Bihar, he travels all over to watch Team India. Once upon a time he used to be a teacher. He confesses that, these days, with cricket being played all the year around and all over the country, he cannot cope with the demands of a full-time job. (And apparently he now gets free tickets to all of India’s games from none other than his hero, Tendulkar! Today he got more: No. 10, the big man himself, called him out of the stands and, incredibly, let Gautam hold the World Cup trophy!)

Everyone knows him now. He’s famous. While more or less disciplined in the stands, Gautam has been known to break out of the cordoned areas and run on to the field when he is appropriately moved during a game. And everytime, he is detained by the police. Not surprisingly, the Indian team has always bailed him out!

What a fan! Passion!

He discounts the objections his family raises. They call him crazy. And he has decided to remain single for the sake of cricket. Fan, indeed! And a passionate one at that! Willing to sacrifice all for his idol.

That’s what God calls his people to be. His fans.

The LORD our God is one Lord;

and you shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart,

and with all your soul,

and with all your mind,

and with all your strength!

Mark 12:29–30

And Jesus called this the “foremost commandment.” The first. The most important. The primary one.

Fans of God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. With every fiber of our being, with every cell of our bodies.

And this love is not just an emotional gush of sentiment or feeling. Not at all. It is a passionate adherence to God, a heartfelt embrace of his purposes, and a willing submission to his demands. Just a few verses down from where this command to love first occurs—in the Old Testament—is another command.

You shall fear the LORD your God;

and you shall worship Him

and swear by His name.

Deuteronomy 6:13

We are to seek God and the things of God … exclusively!

“Do not worry then, saying,

‘ What will we eat?’ or

‘What will we drink?’ or

‘What will we wear for clothing?’

But seek first His kingdom

and His righteousness,

and all these things

will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:31, 33

Passionate fans, living for him.

Whether, then, you eat or drink

or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Passionate fans, he wants us to be!