Fires Of First Love and The Tongue…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

Everyday Christianity.

Revelation 2: 1-7

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil.  And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that our have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place-unless you repent.  But this you have that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

I have heard some people say that everyday Christianity is hard.  I find that Christianity is the easy part.  The hard part is dealing with all my sin.  And even in that, the Lord is longsuffering, the Lord is merciful, the Lord is patient and wanting all men to come to repentance and the knowledge of truth.  I would say most of the difficulty that comes with Christianity is self imposed difficulty.

Christianity itself is simple.  Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent as the perfect Sacrifice by God to pay for the sins of all mankind so that anyone who calls upon Jesus’ Name with a heart of belief will be saved.

So what does it take for us to believe something?

Do you remember the moment that you believed?

Do you remember the fire of that first love?

Has it cooled?

Has it gone out?

Proverbs 14: 2

“He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth Him.”

Our tongues might be the culprit.

Ecclesiastes 5: 1-7

“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.  Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.  For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few.  For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.  When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed-Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.  Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.  Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity.  But fear God.”

We learn in James that our tongues are an unruly evil.  They are untamed and often set on fire events that lead to sin.  From our mouths we curse and bless while we should be fountains of refreshing Spiritual water for all.

Proverbs 8: 1-11

“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?  She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet.  She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.  O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart.  Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.  They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.  Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”

All of this got me to thinking about Jesus and a couple of passages of Scripture.

1 Peter 4: 7-11

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  And above all things have fervent love for one another for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.”

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

Jesus taught:

Matthew 5: 33-37

“Again you have heard that it was said of those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’  But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Tomorrow we’ll be taking a closer look at Moses and God’s first interaction at the burning bush.

Happy waiting!

:)