OK, I am behind on my post's and thanks for all of the reminders. I know I said I would next post about tithing, but God has led me in a different direction tonight. More Love talk!!
Read Revelation 2:1-7. Go ahead, I'll wait....
This message to the Church at Ephesus could very well have been written to some of us personally today. We have left our First Love. Now this was a message to a Church that was working for God. Jesus listed quiet a few things they were doing right, but He had one thing against them. In spite of all the works they were doing, they had "left your first love."
Have you? This post today is for the Christians out there. Who is your first love? So many people I see "working" for God are running around with a frown on their face, and you ask them how they are doing, and you'll here: " I'm Making it." "I am keeping on." "I am wore out." And they look just pitiful and miserable. Now this is a minority of the Church any way, as most members of our churches don't do anything. But when you see them on Sunday, you will hear the same thing. But we are not talking about them today. But this message is for all Christians, I was just using that as an example because I witnessed it today.
What is your first love? Is it your job? It might be. Will you get up at 5am, stand in the snow, scrape ice off your windows, and drive for an hour in bad weather to go to Church? Visit the hospital or nursing home? Take food to a widow or elderly couple? Most don't, but they would for $10 an hour.
Is it your car? Would you spend $100 on cleaning supplies and spend three hour cleaning your church? Or someone you know who has been sick or having a hard time; would you do that to their house?
Is it your television? Would you stay up late to be with someone who is lonely? Would you go visiting on Tuesdays with your Church during American Idol? How many hours do you spend watching TV? How many hours do you spend reading your Bible?
So what is it? Sports? Women? Men? Pets?
Here is a quick test. If you love something, you will spend time caring for, nurturing, and showing it off. The thing you spend the most of your time doing is probably your first love.
Now you know where this is going.
Know who your First Love should be?
Is He?
Verse five tells us how to remedy this, and it comes from the mouth of Jesus Himself. And He also tells you in the same verse what will happen if you don't repent and re-find your first love.
And Verse seven tells you what reward you will receive.
So I ask you again; who is your First love?
(And there is a hidden message here for all of you Pharisees that are wrapped up in legalism and works. Without love, it is all for nothing. Stop judging, and start working for your First-Love with love.)
A ministers teachings and explanations of just about anything related to Christianity, Psychology, Counseling, or anything elso that may come up. Everyone is welcome, as is any questions or comments. As long as they are not vulger in nature, feel free to speak your mind.
4 comments:
I've been reading your blogs and it seems to me that you are being critcal of churches and church members. If you have been hurt, then you need to let it go and move on. Holding bitterness in your heart toward others will only hurt you. The Bible says that if we do not forgive, then our heavenly father will not forgive us. Unforgiveness is sin, and very unbecoming of a minister. You say you are writing to church members in general, but people can read between the lines.
Thank you for your comments. I am sorry if it seems that I have a personal grudge. I am just against legalism and modern day Pharisee's, who are present within the entire body of Christ. If your Church does not have this problem, then Praise the Living God; but a lot do. I am trying to make the point of how if everyone started loving and stopped judging, then we could do so, so much more. Now I am far from perfect, as we all are, and under the Grace of the Blood of Jesus. But you won't witness or work for the Lord in the mission field very long before you come across someone who has been hurt by this behavior, or have left the Church because of it. The behavior is uncalled for and Un-Christlike. While it is true that I have been hurt in Church, as I have written here, it was unrelated, and my forgiveness speaks for itself. I share part of the blame, and have been forgiven as well. I will make an honest effort to improve on my writing skills so that it doesn't look so harsh in the future, but I offer no apologies. Jesus' most harsh words while on earth was toward the same crowd, and if you study prophecy enough, you will see how this behavior helps in establishing the one-world Church. See, if we get too Holy to allow sinners needing forgiveness in, where do you think they are going to go? To the Church that spurns them. or to a congregation that stretches the Word and is open to all? Hate the sin, love the sinner. How would they know the right way, if they cannot be shown? Not by being treated as lower and less Holy than the "members" who are perfect. Thanks for reading the blog, and also for being brave enough to comment. God bless you in all you do.
Your teaching on tithing today was good. That's the best way to go. I did not mean to criticize you. I was just trying to help. Been saved almost 35 years. I've had my share of rejection and criticism. But I have learned to do as Paul said: "forget those things that are behind, and reach toward the prize for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus." Phillipians "not an exact quote." Should have looked it up I guess.
Thanks for your kind input and words. And thanks for reading the Blog as well. I hope I did not sound offended, because I took your advice to heart. I just did a poor job of explaining exactly what "legalism" and Phariseism is. Guess I know what the topic of the next blog will be, lol.
Jesse
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