Its a Heart Thing

 

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"   Matt 15:8-9  NKJV

 

One of the saddest things that can happen in the church is when a group of people have a lot of “religiosity” consisting of works, traditions, declarations, and worship activities; but their hearts are far from God.  How sad it must be for God to watch people ‘play church’, and yet not be in love with Jesus!

 

The church in Ephesus had that problem:  They had works, labor, patience, and righteous living.  But they lacked one thing – the most important thing:  A love for Christ.  They had lost their first love!  Jesus told them “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, (Rev 2:5).

 

Yes we want to have a well balanced life:  Worship, reading the Word, prayer, good works, evangelism – all of these things are important.  But the first thing trumps them all:

 

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'   This is the first and great commandment.

Matt 22:37-38  NKJV

 

 

...till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com