Another Turning Point
"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." - Revelation 2:4-5
I came across this verse a couple days ago and man, it hit me hard because it relates with me and where I'm at right now. Here, Jesus is speaking to the church in Ephesus where the Gospel was pervasive and powerful in the culture following Paul's mission there. At this point, they were continuing to endure pain and fight for sound doctrine. However, as Jesus says here, they have abandoned their first love. As Ephesus grew in their understanding of doctrine, they fell away from the state they were in at first which sparked their transformation. As Matt Chandler says in The Explicit Gospel, "They had the appearance of godliness but denied the power therein to produce radical affection for Jesus, radical repentance from sin, and radical love for a lost world" (185).
So how does this relate to my life right now? I feel like I've grown in many areas over time, but the affection for Jesus and the radical, gritty attitude I once had has faded. I've known Jesus for over four years now and compared to earlier in my walk, my understanding of doctrine now is much greater, I'm more involved in ministry now than I ever was, for the most part I know what to do and how to do it, etc. But at the same time, I can remember times when I was so in love with Jesus, I was much more adamant in pursuing holiness, I was more bold in sharing the Gospel, and my faith was greater. For a while, I've been experiencing less affection for Jesus, struggles with sin, shrinking back from standing for the faith, and less love for the lost. It's as if I got content with where I was instead of desiring more and as a result, I have fallen from where I once was.
Praise God for the hope that is in the Gospel! As the Holy Spirit has been working in my heart, I've been reminded of His love, His promises, His faithfulness, and His grace, looking to Jesus, who lived the perfect life I couldn't, died the death I deserve, rose from the grave, and is now at the right hand of the Father. He redeemed me, is continuing to do so, and I know my hope is secure in Him, even if I fall. I pray that I would strive to know Him and fall in love with Him more and more, day by day. I know this walk is not easy but bless God, it does not depend on me. I'm clinging to Jesus.
I came across this verse a couple days ago and man, it hit me hard because it relates with me and where I'm at right now. Here, Jesus is speaking to the church in Ephesus where the Gospel was pervasive and powerful in the culture following Paul's mission there. At this point, they were continuing to endure pain and fight for sound doctrine. However, as Jesus says here, they have abandoned their first love. As Ephesus grew in their understanding of doctrine, they fell away from the state they were in at first which sparked their transformation. As Matt Chandler says in The Explicit Gospel, "They had the appearance of godliness but denied the power therein to produce radical affection for Jesus, radical repentance from sin, and radical love for a lost world" (185).
So how does this relate to my life right now? I feel like I've grown in many areas over time, but the affection for Jesus and the radical, gritty attitude I once had has faded. I've known Jesus for over four years now and compared to earlier in my walk, my understanding of doctrine now is much greater, I'm more involved in ministry now than I ever was, for the most part I know what to do and how to do it, etc. But at the same time, I can remember times when I was so in love with Jesus, I was much more adamant in pursuing holiness, I was more bold in sharing the Gospel, and my faith was greater. For a while, I've been experiencing less affection for Jesus, struggles with sin, shrinking back from standing for the faith, and less love for the lost. It's as if I got content with where I was instead of desiring more and as a result, I have fallen from where I once was.
Praise God for the hope that is in the Gospel! As the Holy Spirit has been working in my heart, I've been reminded of His love, His promises, His faithfulness, and His grace, looking to Jesus, who lived the perfect life I couldn't, died the death I deserve, rose from the grave, and is now at the right hand of the Father. He redeemed me, is continuing to do so, and I know my hope is secure in Him, even if I fall. I pray that I would strive to know Him and fall in love with Him more and more, day by day. I know this walk is not easy but bless God, it does not depend on me. I'm clinging to Jesus.
"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12-14
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