In marriage
counseling I sometimes meet with couples who are more attached to their
marriage than their mate! There is no spark of love between them, yet they
profess to love each other. What I see
as they talk is that they love is the house they own together, or their children,
or having a place to call home. Are
those bad things? Not at all. But, when
the relationship is not kept alive, unhappiness will inevitably follow. Why?
Because the core of marriage is the love of a man and woman for each
other.
In the Revelation,
the Lord inspired John to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor. He
commended the church in Ephesus for her hard work, her faithfulness, her purity
in practice and doctrine. Then He said, "Yet I hold this against you: You have
forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to
you and remove your lampstand from its place." (Revelation 2:4-5, NIV)
It is a shocking statement. "You love the
things about Me, more than you actually love Me!"
Is this a problem unique to the Ephesian
Christians? No! When Jesus visited the
Temple in Jerusalem, He grew angry Mark says.
As He tipped over money-changer’s tables and rebuked those who were carrying
merchandise through the courtyards of the Temple, He said “this is supposed to be a house of prayer.” This story is often seen as a rebuke of the
corruption of the priests, which it is – in part! But the context of the account, reveals that
Jesus was more angered by their love of the Temple life more than the God for
Whom it was built!
Do you truly love
the Lord? Do you adore and worship Him or just participate in the religious
acts that bring comfort to you? If all the Christian things you do were suddenly taken away, would you still know
how to love Him, to bring yourself – heart, soul, mind, and strength – to adoration?
Over the last
month, my life has slowed down considerably as I focus on caring for my wife. Temporarily
I am less engaged in the business of the church. There is more time to meditate,
to reflect, to pray. In that quietness, I am discovering a renewed inner devotion. Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he told
us to “pray continually.” (1
Thessalonians 5:16) I am learning, anew,
to love Jesus more than serving Jesus.
Paul challenged
the church to distinguish between shadow and substance. Some in the church in Colossae were very
religious but they had ‘lost connection’
to Jesus Himself! "And having disarmed the powers and
authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the
cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with
regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These
are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in
Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of
angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about
what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from
whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews,
grows as God causes it to grow." (Colossians 2:15-19, NIV)
Stay connected to
Jesus! If you have confused church work with devotion, religious acts with
worship, look deeper! Like the
Ephesians, may the Lord commend us for our faithfulness in doing His work, but
may He also find our hearts devoted to Him, with no confusion of shadow and
substance.
___________
(Ron Kenoly sings)
Majesty! Worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory,
Honor, and praise.
Majesty! Kingdom authority,
Flow from His throne,
Unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high,
The name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify,
Christ Jesus, the King!
Majesty! Worship His majesty.
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all kings.
Jack Hayford
© 1981 New Spring
(Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
CCLI License #
810055
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