Return to Your First Love!

Week 17, Day 2 Reading: Revelation 2:1-11

Have you ever considered just how much you love God?  Does your love for Him burn with such passion you wouldn’t dare to disobey Him, cannot stand to disappoint Him, and hate it when He’s mocked?

The church in Ephesus had loved God like this but over time their love for Him had grown cold.  Out of cold love came cold deeds that dishonored God and diminished His kingdom. 

Enter the church in Smyrna whose love for God was so strong it blessed His lovely heart and advanced His earthly kingdom, despite the church’s deep poverty and tribulation.  This church is the evidence of the truth revealed in  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 which says, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”  (NIV.)

Christ’s love compelled the embattled Smyrna Christians to live for Him because they were convinced He is Who He says He is:  Their Savior, the Person Who rescues, delivers and preserves them from sin and death. 

Does Christ’s love likewise compel us?  

We are Christ’s first love but is He ours?  If He is not we must follow His mandate to repent and think on His salvation (for that is the height from which we have fallen.)  And as we think on His saving work, our love for Him will grow, grand passion for Him will ignite, His kingdom will advance and His Name will be glorified.  Amen, and Amen!

Written by guest blogger, Edie Landis

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pj