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James Brown

Loving God 2

Updated: Jul 26

We ended our last post saying, “Loving God and one another is our highest purpose in life. Other things are vitally important, but none as great as this.”


Today we will establish this statement further from God’s perspective. 


In the book of Revelation, Jesus gives the apostle John message to each of the seven churches of Asia mentioned. One of them was the church at Ephesus. Here is what He said to them.


"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: 


"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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.


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. Revelation 2:1-5


Did you notice the wonderful things Jesus commended this church for accomplishing for His Name’s sake? They had patiently labored in the gospel and not become weary, which in those trying times could have been an easy thing. They did not tolerate evil people in their midst who pretended to be believers or were living abominable lives. 


They had also evaluated those who claimed to be apostles and found them to be liars, who were trying to swindle the flock.


All of these qualities were honorable to the Lord and He commended them for this. However, the one thing He wanted and did not receive was their ongoing first love. Ouch! 


This sin bites believers today because we tend to credit works for true love. It is not the case. Many marriages start out with passionate and heartfelt love only to dwindle down to a flickering flame. The couple may raise children together, work hard at their jobs to support the family, and even take vacations together, but somewhere along the line, a coldness drifts in that snuffs out the first love they had for one another. It has happened countless times. 


This condition usually comes when couples are too busy doing life and not taking time to enjoy one another to keep the flame of their first love kindled. 


Love will take time, resources, and effort. Love must be fanned to keep its flames fueled. There is no substitute for time with someone to keep our love fresh and vital. 


God is love and He wants His children to love Him, not just serve Him like robots with no feeling, no adoration, no fire, or passion. He wants us to love Him and others for His namesake. When love dwindles, life is more difficult and monotonous. We drag our feet to do God’s will because we have reduced His commandments to drudgery.


Andrew Bonar said... “Today I dragged my feet to feed the poor, this shows me the corruption of my heart.” 


We have all been in that condition at times, doing good things grudgingly and not with love towards God or those we are serving. This cannot continue if we are to have a deep and real relationship with the Lord. He is not only looking at our works but primarily our hearts.


No one wants a forced relationship, and neither does the Lord. He wants a sincere bond and union with those who will love Him in return for His goodness, abundant grace, and mercy. 


We must examine our hearts to see if we have lost our first love, and if so, repent, change our mind, and rekindle that love. Jesus wants a loving Bride, not one that is just in the relationship to avoid hell or the difficulties of life. Those reasons may be the reasons a person turns to the Lord in the beginning, but they must move on to genuine love relationship or the commitment level and faithfulness will begin to diminish. 


As we have said previously, God accepts us where we are when we come to Him, but He will not leave us the same as He found us. He wants us to fall in love with Him and to serve Him out of that love. 


Every parent wants their children to know they are loved, but they also want to receive love from the child. It is a two-way street, and anything less can lead to a divided house, strife, rebellion, and plethora of other negative situations.


God loves us in our imperfection, yet still wants our love and affection. This may perplex some because they cannot understand why a perfect, and limitless God would want devotion, love, and affection from imperfect people. Let us consider parents and infants as an example. 


Babies are not capable of giving love on the same level as a parent, but when the child learns to utter “I love you Mommy or Daddy” the parent becomes unglued with a sense of unexplainable warmth, joy, and pleasure. They know the baby does not have an ulterior motive behind those words and they were expressed out of a pure heart. So it is with the Father and the Lord Jesus. When we express our love for them, it touches their heart and completes the circle of love.


While Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders, the apostle Peter denied knowing Him three times, just as Jesus had earlier declared. Peter wept bitterly over this horrific moral failure (Matthew 26:69-75). However, after His resurrection, Jesus made sure Peter knew He still wanted a relationship with Him.


Just prior to ascending back to heaven, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” The first word He used for love was ‘Agapaō,’ which means a sacrificial love. Here is the story in John’s Gospel.


15) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 


16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 


17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.” John 21:15-17


In this intimate setting, Jesus asks Peter a very pointed question to expose where his heart was. Jesus started by asking if he loved (‘agapaō’) him enough to sacrifice his life for Him. This probing question made Peter extremely uncomfortable because he realized he was not at this level of surrender and love for the Lord. 


The third time Jesus asked Peter, Do you love Me?” He used another Greek word for love. The word Jesus used is ‘phileō’ and means “fond of.” It is the same word Peter used when responding to the Lord’s interrogation. 


Jesus did this to make Peter aware of his level of love for Him at the time. Nevertheless, He went on to indicate Peter would one day give his life for Him and the Gospel, indicating Peter’s love for Jesus would eventually grow. (John 21:18-19)


We will continue to look at what it means to love the Lord next time. Until then, may God our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.


James Brown

CST 02/06/2024

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