By David Brenneman
It's been asked of Jesus , was a written condemnation to a Church in the book of Revelation.
Have you forgotten your first love?
Have you laid aside your faith?
I continue to find new places in the Bible of references to sanctification, to sanctify.
It's almost always linked to idolatry. It's always in reference to only turning towards the living God in living life.
In your life, how seriously are you living it for Jesus or for you?
If your life were reviewed today, what would it show about you?
Would it show a devotion to a life with Christ or show something else?
Would you see you divided or see you all in concerning obedience to God?
I can't see into my own choices to the extent that Jesus can.
I easily can deceive myself. I literally cannot trust me. You cannot trust you either. Why? We have a sin nature that has not been separated from us yet.
I sit here this morning, writing, drinking coffee. Sit here hearing vehicles go by in this early morning hour. Yet I easily have a mind that is prone to wander. Just as the Bible says of me.
I really want to do what's right in God's eyes, but I have a body that has other ideas.
I do love my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
But my mind drifts quickly when storms arise.
Much like the very apt description of a squirrel and a dog. The dog can be very obedient, yet a squirrel can ruin that in a heartbeat. It only takes a fleeting thought to bring a world crashing down. It only takes one.
In many writings of the New Testament we read words that comparatively say the same thing. Stirring us up by way of reminder...we need reminding! The Church in all those cities did, are we any different?
We cannot please God in and of ourselves. We need a right relationship with Jesus, through the Spirit, to do so. We need to let go of things that so easily entangle us. We lie to ourselves when we deny the existence of those things. Why is it a lie unto ourselves? Because the Bible tells us!
If it weren't possible to forget our first love, it wouldn't be brought up.
If we were capable of obeying God in our own strength we wouldn't need the power of the Spirit.
If it were possible for us to please God on our own Jesus wouldn't have went to the cross.
If it were possible to live a wholly obedient life on our own, then we wouldn't be His workmanship.
What deeds done in your body lately reflect a life lived for Jesus?
What deeds done in your body lately reflect a life lived for yourself?
When was the last time you mentioned to Jesus that you love Him?
When was the last time you spent more time with Him than with anyone or anything else in even ONE of the days in this last week of your life?
Could you spend an hour with Him, as you do a television show?
Could you spend several hours with Him, as you would a movie?
Could you spend a few more than that with Jesus, as you would a football game?
We easily find time to spend anywhere else but where we should be.
To sanctify Jesus as Lord in our hearts means He is the central focus. He is at the center of our lives. Not in shared visitation rights with the world.
What does this say?
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NASB "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."
So where is your love for Jesus? Is it among those who have forgotten or is it alive and lived out?
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