June 2019
Mark 12: 30 (NKJV)
'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.'
The issue Jesus had with the church at Ephesus in Revelation chapter 2 is they had lost their first love which meant their enthusiasm and devotion to the Lord had fizzled.
Do you ever feel like your enthusiasm, drive and devotion to the Lord waivers? Sometimes our busied pace of life makes it difficult to stay focused on the Lord. Sometimes the things life throws at us takes our focus off the Lord such as; killings of innocent people by evil, politics, terrorism, and the ever-growing struggle to make ends meet. Sometimes people let us down.
All these things can take our focus away from the Lord and place it someplace it doesn't belong.
A. W. Tozer once said, “As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once.” Therefore, if we put the Lord first in our lives, no matter what obstacles we face, no matter what we go through, everything will fall into place when the Lord is put first in our lives. It may not work out the way we thought it would, but it will work out the way the Lord intended.
How can we keep the Lord first? Be mindful and appreciative of what He has already done for you. Make time for God through prayer, Bible study and worship. Do what He says to do and limit doing what He says not to. When we do, Jesus' words come to mind, 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you'.
When we rekindle our enthusiasm and devotion to the Lord we'll discover we have a joy others can't explain, a peace which passes understanding and a happiness not based on possessions, people, reputation, wealth or social standing but which flows down from heaven above.
Reconnect with the Lord and watch the blessings flow!
Continuing the work of Jesus ChristPeacefully, Simply, Together
Peacefully, Simply, Together