Return Your Love to ME

March 6th, 2024

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 and rekindle that first love for Jesus.

SCRIPTURE: “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’ Revelations 2:1-7

Salvation is a choice and keeping our love for Christ aglow is a choice. When we have to make a choice and don’t make it that is in itself “a choice”. There are a few evidences of “leaving” our first love:
(a) When my delight in the Lord is no longer as great as my delight in someone or something else (Mark 12:30);
(b) When I claim to be “only human” and easily give in to those things which I know displease the Lord (I Corinthians 10:13);
(c) When I fail to make Christ or His Words known because I fear rejection (John 15:20);
(d) When I become complacent to sinful conditions around me (Matthew 24:12) or
(e) When I am unable to forgive another (Matthew 6:15).
Only you know what the consistent thermometer of your heart is for your love for Christ.

Let us choose to return to You Lord! You said in Zechariah 1: 3 “Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.’” Jeremiah 3:22 says “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding.” You also said in Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” We choose YOU, LORD!!! We Choose!!!

Prayer: My heart Lord is deceitful and desperately wicked and only YOU know it, so I confess a heart that can one minute be on fire and then quickly can be loveless. Thank YOU, Holy Spirit, for continually working in me to will and to do for Your good pleasure. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me so that YOU can use me for YOUR GLORY!!!
By Sis. Cheryl Torain