Wed 3.3 – No Turning Back

Today’s Readings: Col 3.1-4, Phil 3, John 21

Yesterday’s devotion was all about the passionate pursuit we should all have for the WORD OF GOD as we strive to SEEK those things above. We saw how it was a heart desire for the WORDS of Jesus that allowed Mary to be remembered as a WORSHIPPER. I hope that was a challenge to everyone like it was to me!

Today I want to just make it short and sweet. We will have a big night at the fridge with lots of information to help you live this Christian life, and I pray you will spend time preparing your hearts and minds spiritually through prayer by SETTING YOUR AFFECTION on the THINGS ABOVE as you go along your way today. As you do, just let this thought hang around your mind. . .

Think about the Apostle Paul. If there was ever a guy we could say was truly living the Christian life fully aware of God’s plan for his life, it has to be Paul. I mean, it was Paul after all who gave us this amazing KEY passage of scripture in Colossians 3.1-2. So, what was it that made Paul so effective? So successful? So connected to God? Well, actually there are probably a hundred things, but I think one of those things that would probably effect all of the other ones was that to Paul, once he started SEEKING and SETTING his affection on God, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK! Paul never got comfortable with his relationship with God. I do not mean he was never comfortable HAVING a relationship with God, I mean he was never comfortable with the level of relationship HE DID HAVE. He always wanted more. He always wanted to get to the next level. He always wanted to see the next step the light of the WORD OF GOD (Ps 119.105) was shining along his path. For Paul, THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK in his passionate pursuit of God.

Take some time and (1) slowly read through Philippians 3. Notice all of the things Paul says that show his low perspective of himself, but his high perspective of Christ. Notice in verse 10 Paul’s purpose in all of his life (trials and triumphs alike) was to KNOW HIM!!! Ask the Spirit of God to speak to you and challenge you to a new PASSION in your PURSUIT as you read this passage.

Next (2) think about the events of John 21. This may not seem like such a heart-wrenching story when you first read it, but remember…Peter was a (what?) before Jesus called him to be a disciple? And after Jesus died and was resurrected, he finds Peter in the same condition he was in BEFORE Christ entered his life. Wow. And what is Jesus’ response when He finds Peter this way…”do you love me?” I know sometimes in my life, EVEN AFTER Christ has come and called me out of my old life and into a new one, I have been found of Him still living according to the OLD WAY. Is He asking you this morning, “do you love me?”

May we all live a life so PASSIONATE in our PURSUIT of Him that the question never needs to be asked. Amen.

Wed 2.3 – Seeking that First Love

Today’s Reading: Colossians 1.4-6, 20-21; 2.12-15, 20-23; 3.1-2, Revelation 2.1-7 

Tonight we are going to be looking into Colossians 3, and hearing from God about the things HE desires that we pursue, or chase after in life. You can click above and read the text of these verese in 3.1-2. As we saw yesterday, since we are now RISEN WITH CHRIST we are supposed to be doing some things differently. And I hope we all realized that doing things the worlds way (the old way) is pointless because everything that we can gain from the world can either be eaten, broken, or stolen and really has no long term benefit. But, TREASURES IN HEAVEN DO.

Today, let’s begin to prapare our hearts for the message tonight by remembering a time past in our lives. Do you remember when you first became a believer and follower of Jesus Christ? You would do anything for Him, wouldn’t you? I remember scrolling through every name in my cell phone to make sure everyone knew that my life now belonged to God. Maybe you have been around one of your friends when they had just discovered that guy/girl and they were sure this person was to be the love of their life. Every 5 minutes your conversation drifted back to how great he/she was, how beautiful their eyes were, how sweet they were, how they were “perfect in every way”. And while your friend is going on and on about Mr./Ms. Wonderful, you are puking your guts out with irritation.

Everyone has seen that excitement before. Most of us have experienced it. It’s called FIRST LOVE. What’s so cool about it, is that it is something that even God Himself talks about. In Revelation 2.1-7 Jesus Christ is talking to a church at a place called Ephesus. Let’s ask God to show us a few key truths in this passage and help us apply them to our hearts this morning. Here are some guidelines for us to think along…

#1 – THEY WERE DOING LOTS OF GOOD STUFF.Check out all the GREAT things God says about them in Revelation 2.1-3, 6. Man, I hope and pray that those very same things could be said about our church and ESPECIALLY our youth group here at Grace. They were hard workers, they were patient with others, they took a stand for TRUTH when others around them did not!, and they were in it for the long haul – they wanted it to be a lifetime of walking with God. God even says they shared the same hates. These people hated the same things God hates!!! AWESOME!

#2 – THEY LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE. Now you may be thinking, “where did that bombshell come in 2.4-5?” Well, that helps us understand that even IF we are DOING all the right things, and even sometimes with the right MOTIVE, we can still begin to do it without that FIRST LOVE for HIM that we had when we were saved. And yet, that FIRST LOVE is exactly what God wanted from us to begin with. Do you realize that God saved you SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE A MEANINGFUL LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM??? That’s His purpose for your life. To fall more and more in love with Him, and to lead others to do the same! It’s that simple.

#3 – THEY DID NOT LOSE THEIR FIRST LOVE. There is a difference between LOSING something and LEAVING something. I could use the example of your wallet. If you show up to school one day and realize that you LEFT your wallet at home, no sweat right? I mean, you may not be able to get that coke from the vending machine between classes, but the world is definately not coming to an end. You may even be able to visualize in your head right where it is laying on your dresser, or in your car. However, if you get to homeroom and realize that you LOST your wallet, and have no idea where it could be, PANIC!!! Am I right? God did not tell these people that they LOST their FIRST LOVE for Him, just that they had LEFT IT. So, when you leave something, what do you do? You go get it. In verse 5 God gives them a very simple solution for finding the LOVE they had LEFT. I would encourage you to look at that remedy in preperation for the service tonight!

I am looking forward to seeing you all tonight. I pray that God will begin to open your hearts and prepare your ears to hear the Word of God! I am so EXCITED about what God is doing in our youth group! I can’t wait to see how He uses this study of DIRECTIONS to bring us back to our FIRST LOVE of Him!!!

If you have any questions or comments, please post them as a comment to this devotion and I will get back with you.