2021-04-05
Revelation 2:5 CEV
Addressing the Ephesian church, Jesus said: “I know everything you have done, including your hard work and how you have endured. I know you won’t put up with anyone who is evil….You have endured and gone through hard times because of me, and…not given up. But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don’t have as much love as you used to. Think about where you have fallen from…then turn back and do as you did at first” (vv. 2-5 CEV).
Think back to your early days as a Christian. Remember how excited you got when you talked about the Lord. Remember how you spent time each day in prayer, and left His presence strengthened. You couldn’t get enough of His Word. It was filled with fresh insights that thrilled your soul and challenged you to go deeper with Him. You never missed an opportunity to talk to others about the Lord. Your walk with Him was consistent, fulfilling, and the pivotal point of your life.
What happened? Have you reached the same point in your life as the Ephesian Christians Jesus was speaking to? If so, understand that God won’t interrupt your busy schedule or accelerate His pace to catch up with you. No, you must slow down in order to get back in step with Him. He can’t be conveniently fitted into the framework of your complicated life; you must choose to put Him first, and keep Him there. Today the Lord may be speaking these words to you: “Think about where you have fallen from…then turn back and do as you did at first.”
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 9:1-6
Revelation 2:5 NCV
In the book of Revelation, Jesus gave these words to the Ephesian church: ‘I know you do not put up with the false teachings of evil people…You have patience and have suffered troubles for my name and have not given up. But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first. If you do not change, I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place’ (Revelation 2:2-5 NCV).
When we first become Christians, we can be full of excitement at the thought of our new life with God. We want to spend time in His presence, listening to everything He has to say to us. We feel refreshed and strengthened after our prayer times. We’re hungry for His Word – it’s filled with fresh insights that nourish our souls and challenge us to go deeper with Him. We can’t wait to tell others about Jesus.
But we can find that some of our enthusiasm fades as daily life takes over. We can reach the same point that the Ephesians reached when Jesus spoke to them. They hadn’t turned away from God, but their love for Him had faded.
If we find ourselves at that point in our relationship with God, it’s important that we take some time to slow down and renew our love for Him. He can’t be conveniently fitted into the framework of our complicated lives; He is the framework of our lives. We need to choose to put Him first, and keep Him there.
Lev 5-7; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 9:1-6
Openbaring 2:5 NLV
Jesus het met die kerk in Efese gepraat en die volgende gesê: ‘Ek ken jou handel en wandel. Ek het ook jou harde werk en volharding raakgesien, en dat jy slegte mense net nie kan verdra nie… Verder volhard jy ook en het jy ter wille van My baie verdra sonder om moeg te word. Maar Ek het hierdie klag teen jou: dat jy jou eerste liefde versaak het. Dink terug aan hoe ver jy uitgesak het en kom tot inkeer, en doen weer wat jy aan die heel begin gedoen het…’ (verse 2-5 NLV).
Dink terug aan jou eerste dae as Christen. Onthou hoe opgewonde jy geword het wanneer jy oor die Here gepraat het. Onthou hoe jy elke dag tyd in gebed bestee het en hoe sy teenwoordigheid jou versterk het. Jy kon nie genoeg van sy Woord kry nie. Dit was met vars insigte gevul wat jou siel opgewonde gemaak het en jou uitgedaag het om dieper oor Hom te delf. Jy het nie ‘n geleentheid laat verbygaan om met ander mense oor die Here te praat nie. Jou pad met Hom was vervuld en die spil waarom jou lewe gedraai het.
Wat het gebeur? Het jy dieselfde punt as die Christene in Efese waarmee Jesus gepraat het, bereik? As dit die geval is, moet jy verstaan dat God nie jou besige skedule sal onderbreek of sy pas sal versnel om by jou te bly nie. Nee, jy moet stadiger loop om weer in pas met Hom te kom. Jy moet kies om Hom eerste te stel en Hom daar te hou. Vandag rig die Here dalk die volgende woorde tot jou: ‘Kom tot inkeer, en doen weer wat jy aan die heel begin gedoen het.’
Sielskos: Lev 5-7; Matt 28:11-15; Ps 72:1-11; Spr 9:1-6
2021-04-04
John 20:7 NLT
In Bible days when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence – a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a job, he took off his apron, folded it up, and set it on his finished work, signifying the job was complete.
So with that picture in mind, read this: ‘Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved….Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead’ (John 20:1-9 NLT).
Did you notice the words ‘the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up’? The master carpenter had finished the job. Our salvation was complete. That means we don’t have to work to be saved. We only have to put our trust in Christ, and our sins are forgiven and our place in heaven is assured.
1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10
John 20:7 NLT
In Bible days when you wanted a fine piece of furniture made, you picked someone with a reputation for excellence – a master carpenter or a finish carpenter. But these carpenters had an interesting custom. When a carpenter completed a job, he took off his apron, folded it up, and set it on his finished work, signifying the job was complete.
With that picture in mind, read this: “Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved….Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead” (vv. 1-9 NLT).
Note the words “the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up.” The master carpenter had finished the job. Our salvation was complete. You don’t have to work to be saved, you only have to put your trust in Christ, and your sins are forgiven and your place in heaven assured.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15; Matt 28:1-10
