“Yet I hold this against you; you have forsaken your first
love.” (Rev 2:4) The 3rd concept is the love which first indwells God’s people,
for Him. The Lord was careful to attribute the church at Ephesus’ works and
virtues to them, however, these can become religious acts without maintaining
love. Once love goes, and religion takes its place, the motive for all we do
changes.
In the Old Testament we find the concept of first love in Jeremiah; “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the desert, through a land not sown.” (Jer 2:2) One definition of devotion is that it is the most intimate degree of loyalty, love and faithfulness that can exist between two people.
Devoted love causes a young bride to follow her husband, no matter what the hardships. Because Israel strayed in her heart after idols, she lost her place as God’s wife. If we, as God’s church, go after works, recognition, or other things that become our objects of affection, eventually He will remove our lampstand. It is not our works that give us a secure place before God, but our love of Him. He seeks a holy relationship, not a list of deeds. Amen.
In the Old Testament we find the concept of first love in Jeremiah; “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the desert, through a land not sown.” (Jer 2:2) One definition of devotion is that it is the most intimate degree of loyalty, love and faithfulness that can exist between two people.
Devoted love causes a young bride to follow her husband, no matter what the hardships. Because Israel strayed in her heart after idols, she lost her place as God’s wife. If we, as God’s church, go after works, recognition, or other things that become our objects of affection, eventually He will remove our lampstand. It is not our works that give us a secure place before God, but our love of Him. He seeks a holy relationship, not a list of deeds. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment