Bible Reading: Hosea 9-11; Revelation 2.
Memory Verse: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4 (KJV).
For a number of Christians, they were very fervent when they first knew the Lord Jesus Christ but after a while, they began to lose the steam and allow other things to take the place of God in their lives. Not that they do not go to church anymore or read the Bible but it is not with the zeal they used to when they gave their lives to Christ.
You hear such Christians telling new believers that are zealous, “I give you one or two years, you will soon wear out!” Why do we have this situation? It’s due to a number of reasons. For some, it’s the persecution and trials that have made them to give God second place in their lives. These ones are those referred to as falling on stony ground by the Lord Jesus in the parable of the sower (Mark 4:16-17). Similarly it’s the lust of the world that make others to sit back. This is also illustrated by Jesus Christ in that parable as those that fall among thorns (Mark 4:18-19). Other reasons include negative peer influence and family pressure.
Whatever is your reason, the Lord Jesus Christ is quite clear on the consequence, He is not pleased with all those who have relegated him to second fiddle in their lives. He says in Revelation 2:4 (KJV), “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” And He stated the consequence of such an action in Revelation 2:5 (KJV), “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
He is ready to drop you out of his sight as well if you will not repent quickly and rededicate your life to Him. Whatever reason for not giving God a first place in your life, you need to repent of it urgently so that you can spend your eternity in peace and joy. The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 16:26 (KJV), “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” It’s time to come back to God and make him your first love so that everything you do starts and end with him. He is ready to give you another chance and to guide you continually in your ways forward as stated in Psalm 32:8 (KJV), “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
Prayer point: Father, guide me to put You first in all I do in Jesus Christ’s name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero