Is Jesus Still Your First Love .. Or Has Something Else Taken His Place?

My Utmost For His Highest

…do you love Me?…Tend My sheep. —John 21:16

{CHAMBERS} “Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep, to see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Him. We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate…, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). In this verse, there is no argument and no pressure from Jesus to follow Him; He is simply saying, in effect, “If you want to be My disciple, you must be devoted solely to Me.” A person touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says, “Now I see who Jesus is!”— that is the source of devotion. Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. […] If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a “doormat.” The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that “falls into the ground and dies”— it will spring up and change the entire landscape (John 12:24).”

{ELGIN}  I once attended a denominational meeting, it was all pastors.  The guest speaker, in true form for someone who had been taught about public speaking, shared a “joke” as he began.  He said, “Someone once asked me what I would be if I were not a” (put the name of your denomination here) “and I told them – ashamed.”  There was a polite laugh from the pastors.  Personally, I found it very disturbing. The Bible says “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)  I have always found it amazing, how “freely” we feel we can speak when we are amongst “our own kind”.  If you listen long enough, you will hear the heart of the person speaking.  I never sought to attend a meeting like that again, by the way.  I was not saved by a denomination or by a particular race, or nationality.  I was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20) You must be careful that the source of your trust and faith does not get supplanted by something that has the appearance of being good and right.

(Revelation 2:1a-5) “These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands (Jesus). ‘I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.’”  Strong words.  The men in that assembly had dedicated their lives to service, yet, there was some “leaven in the loaf”.  A devotion to a denomination had trumped their devotion to the Lord.  In fact, their devotion to their denomination, in their minds, was indistinguishable from devotion to following Jesus.  Telling the “joke” another way. “Someone asked me what I would be if I was not a  ‘denomination’, and I told them “lost”.  Being one with Jesus is to be our primary focus and not being part of a denomination.  Primary.  (So as not to be misunderstood, I am not saying that doctrines of the faith are not important. And I am not saying that it is ok if you are associated with a cult.) But, from my relationship with the Lord, everything else should spring.  Does it in your life? Does it really?  What exactly do you think being a living sacrifice means?  What do you think loving God with all of your heart, mind and strength means.  Be careful that other “noble” things don’t choke out what the Lord has planted.  Friend take time to examine your heart. It is not hard to grow weeds, but it requires diligence to grow flowers and a garden.  And having done that, make it your goal in life to bring glory to God and proclaim the name of Jesus, just as He intended.