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.
SCRIPTURE: "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 2:1-7 [KJV]
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
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
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
6 Comments
Amen my btother!
Amen!
Thank You Lord for being LOVE!!!!
Amen🙏Amen!
Amen🙏🏽Thank you Father for Your great gift of love through Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord Jesus for Your example of love on the cross at Calvary. Forgive me Lord for not loving You the way that I should. Help me to keep my mind stayed on You, Lord; to seek You first in all things, so that You may be glorified; to love everyone, even my enemies; and to obey Your commandments. It is my desire to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and to abide in the shadow of the Almighty, in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen🙏🏽
Amen!