PREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISE

This week our Devotional Team takes on the topic, "Return and Rekindling of our First Love for Christ"  with Revelations 2:1-7 as our focus scripture. Just ask yourself, do I love Jesus like I did when I was first saved? If we're honest, in some point of our Christian walk, that love dynamic we had with Jesus Christ may have waned since the earlier days of our walk. Be encouraged by the devotionals this week and purpose to commit these verse to memory.

It wasn't so much that there was a slacking in the good works department, that sacrifice and commitment fell short, according to this heavenly messenger. Devotion and deeds were evident, as was a righteous resistance to fakes and imposters in the faith community. There was a certain zeal, and by any earthly court, on the accusation of being Christian, according to the evidence, any judge would bang the gavel with a resounding 'guilty' verdict...but, there was something amiss, Bruh Ephesus! The love matter took a back seat to other things...more importantly, thy first love drifted.

For many of us the traditional response to that moment called Valentine's Day was, and is, about pausing to recognize that special dear one in our lives, to think about them, and to sometimes couple that remembrance with certain actions that communicate how special that one is. It's that unique day to declare love, and coincide it with heightened affection, sometimes with gift-giving or sometimes just being present in a different way, creatively, thoughtfully, personally, and generously.

The "Valentine's Day" for the church is called Communion. "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.'" Luke 22:19-20

God must needs be our first, and greatest love. He showed His love. How do we prove we 'remember'? How have our love languages pursued the LORD? Amen! Let Sunday be everyday! "You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3 & Deuteronomy 5:7 [NASB] "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5 [NASB]

What we love, we make as gods, and what we raise as gods, we love. We must be careful with our feelings We must be careful with our thoughts, and the influences that we permit to be near. "Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

Prayer: LORD-God forgive us when we don't prioritize You with the fruit of the Spirit known as love. Help us through deep remembering to grow in grace, and in freedom choose You and Yours above all else. You, LORD, first and most. Upon this foundation is our own revival and the fruitfulness to flower of it. Upon this is our victory born. Praise be to God.
Amen.
By Bro. McNeal Brockington