RELIGIOUS OR IN LOVE WITH GOD?
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37 MSG
Jesus said, “Love the Lord with all your passion, all your prayer, all your intelligence.” This is the most important, the first on any list.
Revelation 2:4 AMP
But I have this {charge} against you, that you have left your first love {you have lost the depth of the love that you first had for Me}.
Revelation 2:4 The Message
“But you walked away from your first love—-Why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A lucifer fall!” Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste.
Revelation 2:4 NASB
But I have this against you, that you have left your first love!
Recently, my daughter sent me a little video of my granddaughter at her first American Heritage girls club meeting. All the little girls were sitting in a circle on chairs and the leader asked the girls to go around the room, stand up and share something they are thankful for. Round the room they went, some very shy, but each stood sharing something they were thankful for. Then it was my 6-year-old granddaughter’s turn. She is the youngest in the class. She stood up, shared what she was thankful for, and then exclaimed “And I love God!“ I was deeply touched. She had not been prompted nor told to say this. She was so bold in her declaration, so clear, so forthright. She wasn’t at all worried about what others thought about her statement. It was the heartfelt declaration of youth, of a sweet tender heart, that has not been gnarled or diminished by time and circumstance. A heart that has not grown cold.
This question, Religious or in love with God? immediately came to my mind. I urge you to consider this question today. At this stage of your Christian journey are you passionately in love with God, or simply religious? Are you someone who is going through the motions of Christianity, holding onto certain traditions which may be good, but devoid of a heart full of love for God?
Think back to your first awakening to Christ, to the moment in time you embraced him as your Savior. Think back to the eager, grateful heart of one who had been rescued from eternal destruction, from a life of guilt, sin, and misery, freshly adopted into the family of God, and forgiven of all your sins! What was your love like then?
God takes our love very, very seriously. In fact, it is the most important thing to Him. It is His very first and greatest command to us. That we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and that with every aspect of our being, we are loving God.
Are you still doing the things you did when your love was fervent and new for God? This phrase from Rev. 2:5 “Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first!“ begs the question, do the things I do, does the way I live, shout out loud, I LOVE GOD? Are you filled with even more heartfelt gratitude towards God today than when you first believed?
Jesus told us if you love me you will obey me. Has our obedience become perfunctory, done from a sense of dutiful drudgery? Or is it from an eager heart that truly loves God?
Let me encourage you, take time right now to honestly consider the verses at the beginning of this article. Think carefully about the state of your heart towards God. Loving God is the greatest act of our Christian faith. It is the secret to great joy, deep, genuine fulfillment, and abundant life.
Never forget how devoutly religious the Pharisees were, they never missed synagogue, yet how cold and hard in their hearts they were toward God himself, Jesus Christ! I fear that multitudes of Christians in this day and age, fill church services every Sunday around the world from a sense of religious duty, but during the week, their hearts and lives do not shout out loud, in their attitudes, actions, practices, and prayers, I LOVE GOD!
Always remember: It is your demonstrated, emotive, heartfelt love for God that will have the greatest, lasting impact on your children for Jesus Christ, making your Christianity most contagious!
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
