Getting it right

You are not going to get it right all the time. That is a fact! Of course this is not an excuse to become complacent or lazy, but rather to recognise the need to improve and learn from your mistakes. People are very good at finding fault with our shortcomings, and forgetting what we actually get right, even if it is only most of the time.

On a spiritual and Christian level, this sentiment also applies. We seek to follow Jesus and to be God-fearing, but there will be times when we miss the mark. The important thing is to be humble enough to admit our mistakes and to listen to the promptings of the Spirit.

Take a look at this word to the church in Thyatira - "I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first." (Revelation 2:19)
At first glance, we see that they got so much right, but there was still a word of caution for them later in the same letter. They didn't get it right 100% of the time, but they needed to heed the word from the Spirit.

Thought: Don't let our imperfections stop us from giving our ALL for Christ.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

First Love?

 

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first." - Revelation 2:4

When John writes to the church in Ephesus he picks up on the biggest issue that has weakened the witness of that church - they have lost their first love. More to the point, they have stopped loving the way they loved at first. This is not a critique on their ability to love, but rather an observation that they have lost their desire to love. 

For a number of reasons this particular church had been distracted by other things - mainly trying to sort out false teachers in her midst. This problem had sapped most of their time and energy, thus leaving them very little time to LOVE the Lord, their neighbours and to care for each other in the church. 

I think we all can relate to how easily this can happen. We don't plan to 'love less', but over time, our focus shifts onto other 'important' issues and soon we are giving God our leftover time, energy and focus. 

Is this something that you are experiencing lately? If yes, then let us LISTEN to what the spirit is saying to us all.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Moving the light from the Golden Circle

For all of you Music lovers, you will know what a 'Golden Circle' is. Very simply, it is the area closest to the stage at a concert, reserved for those who have paid a lot of money to be near the musicians. When you read Revelation it seems that there is a 'Golden Circle' in heaven. Read this and see what I mean:
 
“I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out.
^4-5 “But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall!
“Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle." - Revelation 2:2-6 (MSG)

Who or what is your 'First love' today?

Living in Grace
D3LM3