But I have this complaint against
you. You don’t love me or each other as
you did at first!
Revelation 2:4
In Revelation
2:2-3, eight signs are mentioned showing the zeal of the church at Ephesus, but
there was one bad sign. The Lord said: ”Turn back to me again and work as you did at
first. If you don’t, I will come and
remove your lampstand from its place among the churches” (verse 5.) What was this sin? “You don’t love me or each other as you did
at first! “ They forgot their first
love.
Are we
committing this same sin in our churches today?
Are we doing good deeds, and working hard, persevering for His Kingdom,
and enduring hardships without growing weary, yet … are we missing what God
values the most: tender, fervent love for Him and for each other.
We can be good
Christian examples in all that we do and are accomplishing, but if we don’t
have that tender love for Jesus that shines through how we love each other,
then all our activities and hardships are nothing in the Master’s eyes.
God desires
our heart above all else. He came to
this earth to love us; to suffer horribly on the cross to make a way for us to
be in relationship with Him. Let us not
forget that He ultimately did all that He did so that we could be in personal
fellowship with Him.
When you
reflect on that, does that stir something within your soul? Your First Love for why you do what you do! Francis Chan says in Crazy Love, “When we work for Christ out of obligation,
it feels like work. But when we truly
love Christ, our work is a manifestation of that love, and it feels like love.”
Don’t forget
your Fist Love! When you are alone with
Him enjoy Him! When you are gathered
together as a body of believers, embrace joy and worship Him! When you serve Him, show others how to love
Him.
“Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love
it yourself. It is as if they are
showing you the way.” Blue Like
Jazz
May your life
be a dance for joy!
Dance for You
May I dance for
You, Lord, today and every day.
Days your song is
joyful and alive,
May my soul be
enraptured by Your tune,
As I dance for
You.
Some days the
music is powerful and vigorous,
May my steps keep
in Your time,
As I dance for
You.
There are days the
melody is slow and sad,
May my arms reach
up though my head hangs low
As I dance for
You.
Waiting for the
day that my pulse will quicken to Your glorious beat,
May my lips sing
Your praise and my all respond,
As I dance for
You.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you
removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your
praises and not be silent. Lord my God,
I will praise you forever.
Psalm 30: 11, 12
- Sue Parrott
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