Remember, Repent, Repeat

Daily Reading:  Revelation 2

Scripture Focus: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. (Revelation 2.5a)

Devotional Thought: Recently I have been preaching a series of messages I entitled "Where's the Church?"  These are messages from the book of Revelation and include Jesus' words to the Seven Churches in Asia.  The first church he addressed was the church in Ephesus.  Where was this church? "In Denial."

Jesus commended the church in Ephesus.  They were hard-working and patient.  They endured persecution.  They had maintained a pure and true doctrine and morality.  They refused to grow weary, but just kept on going.

In this church of purity, morality, and consistency, however, Jesus found a tragic flaw.  So deep was the flaw that he told them to "Remember.  Repent.  Repeat."  What was the flaw?  They had abandoned their first love.  And they were living in a state of denial.

It is tragic when we put orthodoxy and duty in the place of love and passion for Christ.  It is tragic when we would rather follow the rules than love Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  It is tragic when we have forgotten how much Jesus means to us.  No matter how perfectly performed, dry dead religion does not please the heart of the Lover of our Souls.

In Luke 7, Jesus was eating in the home of a respectable "church member."  A scandalous woman crashed the dinner party and wept profusely at the feet of Jesus.  Jesus' host was indignant.  Jesus, however, saw things differently.  He said that her great love was due to her recognition that her great sins had been forgiven.  He received that kind of love with joy, but the church member left him feeling cold.

How about you?  Is your love for Jesus still red hot?  If not, "Remember.  Repent.  Repeat."

Prayer: Lord, you have given me so much.  Forgiveness!  New life!  Unconditional love!  Cleansing!  Forgive me, O Lord, when I take these things for granted, and reignite a passionate love for you in my soul!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day:  24 Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. 25 They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands. 28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever. (Psalms 106:24-31)