"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Revelations 2:2-5)
I don't know about you, but lately I have had such a burning in my heart to return to the love I first had when I came to the Lord. It's not that I don't love Him now, or that I don't love living for the glory of the Kingdom...I just feel as though there are so many different things vying for my attention. (Is vying a word?) Responsibilities of taking care of my kids and home...running errands...not to mention media, internet, tv, the list can literally be endless if we allow it to be.
We can truly be contending for the faith, enduring & bearing, interceeding, all for His namesake and in the process of all this, allow those little things in life, those random hardships and trials to come in and chip away at the precious love we had at first.
I've noticed even for myself that because of this, I've had to deal with fears, anxieties, intimidations and insecurities that I haven't dealt with in a long time. But I take heart and encouragment in Psalm 118:
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!...Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear...I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me...
I encourage you, that if you also are going through something similar, cling to the Lord and remember your first love. Cast your cares upon Him because He loves you. It is critical that we do so and endure, lifting each other up and encouraging each other on. God is doing amazing things and I don't want miss any of it because of allowing myself to be swept away in anything else other than Jesus. There are so many people and influences in society trying to tell us what to do, how to/not to act, what to say, how to say it, what is acceptable and unacceptable. It can spin us in a million different directions. But, we cannot look to the distractions and false hopes this world offers. There is only One Hope. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
As it is stated in Jude (ESV):
"But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever."
What is the Lord speaking to you lately? Share your thoughts and let's build each other up! :)
