(Mark 10:17-23; Luke 18:18-24)
The sun beat down on the rocky hillside as Jesus and his disciples walked down the dusty road. It had been a long day and they were weary of the crowds of people that normally thronged them.
Suddenly, a richly clad man came running down the road toward them. Panting, he knelt in front of Jesus. With anticipation in his voice, he asked, “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Read more
“I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2).
As a very young child, I gave my heart to God and surrendered myself into His care. I vividly remember crying because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit on my life. I prayed with my mother in a back Sunday school room for Jesus to come into my heart. While I never went deep into sin, I needed the same saving grace of God in my life as the drug addict and the drunkard. As I grew and matured, I had some ‘spiritual growing pains’ and failures along the way–as do many who get saved at a young age. I never lost my desire to serve God and yet I made many trips to an altar of prayer as a young person. I thank God today for the faithfulness of the Spirit. As the song says, “The Spirit led unerring to the land I hold today.” I was and remain desperate for the daily presence of God in my life, for my way will lead me astray.Read more
Scripture Reading:
1 John 4:16-17 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Definition of Love: Affection, benevolence, charity, attachment. A choice.Read more
From the dawn of creation, God has desired to have a relationship with mankind. We read of God walking in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day desiring to fellowship and be in communion with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8-9). While the Bible is a history book and a book of theology, it is chiefly a record of God’s desire and pursuit of a relationship of love with humanity.
God created the human race and His greatest desire is to be connected with His creation – not by force or coercion, but by love. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and their sin separated them from the close communion that they had previously experienced. Sin always breaks the connection between man and God. However, God was not content to leave us separated by sin and unrighteousness, sentenced to death.Read more
The question references the scripture in Revelation 2:4 which reads: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” The Spirit of God was speaking to the congregation in Ephesus.
Take note that this congregation had taken a stand against evil and was doing much that was good and right. While obedient in theology and in much doctrine, the Ephesians had lost the strong affection and connection with God that they had one time experienced. The JFB commentary says it thus: “Their warmth of love had given place to a lifeless orthodoxy.” Read more