First Love
December 27th, 2009
Scripture:
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4
Observation:
The church at Ephesus was a busy church; verses 2 & 3 talk about their deeds, perseverance and endurance. They were busy doing good, but it appears they had forgotten why they were doing it. The church was doing lots of things to benefit themselves and the community. Paul had once praised them for their love of God and others (Ephesians 1:15). They were not motivated by the same love that they had in the beginning. They had lost their zeal for God.
The church at Ephesus was a busy church; verses 2 & 3 talk about their deeds, perseverance and endurance. They were busy doing good, but it appears they had forgotten why they were doing it. The church was doing lots of things to benefit themselves and the community. Paul had once praised them for their love of God and others (Ephesians 1:15). They were not motivated by the same love that they had in the beginning. They had lost their zeal for God.
Application:
Routine. Complacent. Satisfied. In January, Lynda and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We took time off about a month ago to just get away. No cell phones, no internet, no televisions, and away from lots of people. We just wanted to spend time together. We realized that even though we saw each other every day and talked every day, we needed an intentional time to focus on each other and our marriage. It has also made our time here special again.
Routine. Complacent. Satisfied. In January, Lynda and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We took time off about a month ago to just get away. No cell phones, no internet, no televisions, and away from lots of people. We just wanted to spend time together. We realized that even though we saw each other every day and talked every day, we needed an intentional time to focus on each other and our marriage. It has also made our time here special again.
I need that same type of time in my spiritual life. I can get distracted by the activities that we are involved with in Jackson (busy doing good) and forget why I’m doing it. I can also do the same thing in my quiet time and make it more about checking off a box than spending time with God. When I get to that point I have to get away from all distractions and just focus on God through prayer and reading of His Word. That gives me a chance to listen to God and not be rushed. It’s a great way to start my new year, with a renewed focus on God.
Prayer:
God, I pray that you help me with my focus on you. Take away the things that can distract me from spending quality time with you. I pray that I never great so busy doing good that I forget the reason I’m doing it.
God, I pray that you help me with my focus on you. Take away the things that can distract me from spending quality time with you. I pray that I never great so busy doing good that I forget the reason I’m doing it.
—David Hardin, community missions pastor, Reservoir campus