Msg #1945 Leaving Your First Love

Msg #1945 Leaving Your First Love

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

How does one go about leaving their first love? Christ said that Ephesus, “hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Rev 2:3-4). Getting distracted by other things is a major player in wandering away from one's first love. When I find myself drawn away, even with a godly to-do list, I like to check four things. To love the Word that was made flesh, I need to delight in the law of the LORD, and meditate therein day and night (Psalm 1, Joshua 1:8). “If ye love me, keep my commandments.... If a man love me, he will keep my words” (Joh 14:15, 23). Today, how much did I love his word? “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Ps 119:165).

The Apostle John's first epistle puts great emphasis on loving brethren, “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. … He that loveth not his brother abideth in death … He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, ... Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1John3:23,14,2:10,4:7). My closeness to Christ is measured by my love of brethren,... and my love for Christ's church. The late Evangelist Harold Boyd often said, “If you didn't get enough salvation to get you into church, you probably didn't get enough to get you into heaven.” Love Christ, love what he loves. Fourth, how is my giving. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving” (Evang Boyd).

An Essay for week #45 Nov 10, 2019

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs191110.mp3

View msg in ppt slides at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/msgs/1st_love.pdf

Copyright © 2019 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain, Freely Copy and Distribute.
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
Our mailing address is:
Good Samaritan Baptist Church