Introduction: A Call to Reflect on Spiritual Growth
The message begins with a reflective question: if one could choose an area of their Christian life to improve over the next 12 months, what would it be? Possible answers include improving church sharing, becoming a more patient parent, or deepening knowledge of the Bible. Personally, the goal is to love Jesus more in the coming year. Observing Christians who have gone before, their love for the Lord stands out as the heart of their ministry, inspiring the desire to follow in their footsteps. The message is shared not from expertise but from a personal journey of growth, aiming to encourage the church family to grow together in loving the Lord.
Moses: A Model of Loving God
Moses exemplifies someone who loved the Lord deeply. In Deuteronomy 6:5, Moses declares, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jesus later quotes this verse as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38), underscoring its significance. Spoken near the end of Moses’ life, this command reflects his years of experience walking with God, emphasizing that loving God is the most important aspect of faith. Unlike earlier books (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers), Deuteronomy repeatedly highlights this command, suggesting Moses learned its centrality through his journey.
Another question is posed: if one could have one aspect of Moses’ life, what would it be? Some might desire his miraculous acts, like parting the Red Sea or bringing plagues. However, the most beautiful aspect is found in Exodus 33:11: “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face just as a friend speaks to his friend.” This intimate friendship is evident when Moses spent 40 days and nights with God on the mountain (Exodus 24-25), and later another 40 days after the golden calf incident (Exodus 34). Beyond discussing commandments and tabernacle instructions, Moses and God shared a profound connection, enjoying each other’s presence. Despite his busy leadership role, Moses’ heart was rooted in his relationship with God, serving as a model for believers.
The Church in Ephesus: A Warning Against Losing First Love
Revelation 2:1-4 provides a contrasting example of a leader in the church of Ephesus who, despite commendable deeds, lost their first love for Jesus. The Lord acknowledges their toil, perseverance, discernment in testing false apostles, and endurance through persecution without growing weary (Revelation 2:2-3). However, the Lord says, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). The Living Bible translates this as, “You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.” The call is to repent and return to the deeds done at first.
This passage redefines repentance. Typically, repentance is associated with confessing specific sins, such as speaking in anger. However, losing one’s first love for Jesus is also a matter requiring repentance. Additionally, ministry, though good, is not the best thing if it distracts from loving Jesus. The leader in Ephesus did not reject Jesus but was drawn away, perhaps unknowingly, by busyness. A personal reflection reveals a similar experience: during a busy period of church activities, the realization came that time with Jesus was neglected, highlighting the danger of prioritizing good activities over the best thing—Jesus himself.
Jesus: Prioritizing Time with God Amid Busyness
Luke 5:15-16 illustrates how Jesus maintained His relationship with God despite a demanding ministry. As His fame spread and crowds gathered to hear Him and seek healing, “Jesus himself would often slip away into the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16). The term “slip away” implies doing something one loves, not a chore. Unlike slipping away to distractions like sports or social media, Jesus chose prayer. This challenges believers to examine what they slip away to during busy moments. Personal experience shows a tendency to turn to mobile devices for news or entertainment, sometimes neglecting time with Jesus. Following Jesus’ example of slipping away to pray preserves one’s relationship with God amidst life’s busyness.
Practical Steps to Grow in Love for Jesus
To grow in love for Jesus, two practical steps are highlighted. First, understanding God’s love fosters love in return, as stated in 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.” Reading the Bible should not only inform but reveal Jesus’ beauty. For example, Isaiah 52:14 describes Jesus’ suffering: “His appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.” The Living Bible adds, “They shall see my servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured, one could scarcely know it was a person standing there.” This suffering, more severe than any other, reflects Jesus’ life of humility and sacrifice, such as being born in a manger. This principle of “more than any man” likely applied to all aspects of His life, enabling Him to empathize as a sympathetic high priest. Reflecting on such passages deepens love for Jesus.
Second, appreciating the forgiveness of sins increases love for Jesus. In Luke 7:47, Jesus says of a sinful woman, “Her sins which are many have been forgiven, for she loved much, but he who is forgiven little loves little.” Believers must recognize the magnitude of their forgiveness. A personal reflection compares gratitude for a forgiven million-dollar debt to gratitude for forgiven sins, admitting that the former feels more tangible due to a lack of revelation. A church activity where members shared why they follow Jesus included a testimony: “The question shouldn’t be why Jesus, but why me? Why do you still love me?” This reflects a heart aware of its unworthiness. Similarly, in Luke 5:8, Peter, after a miraculous catch of fish, says, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” His awareness of sinfulness contrasts with a self-entitled response, fostering gratitude that fuels love for Jesus.
A Promise and a Choice: Life Through Loving God
Deuteronomy 30:6 offers a promise: “Moreover, the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul so that you may live.” Loving God is not achieved through human effort alone; God enables it. This promise is given to those who have sinned and turned back to God, encouraging even the unfaithful to seek His help. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 presents a life-and-death choice. Death results when the heart turns away, disobeys, and is drawn to other gods, leading to perishing (Deuteronomy 30:17). The danger is not outright rejection of Jesus but being subtly drawn away by ministry, family, or work. Life, however, comes through “loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, by holding fast to him” (Deuteronomy 30:20). Everything outside of God is death, but loving Him alone brings life. This truth challenges believers to prioritize Jesus above all else.
Bible References
- Deuteronomy 6:5: Commands to love God with all heart, soul, and might, quoted by Jesus as the greatest commandment.
- Exodus 33:11: Describes Moses’ intimate friendship with God, speaking face to face.
- Revelation 2:1-4: Warns the Ephesian church for leaving their first love despite commendable deeds.
- Luke 5:15-16: Shows Jesus slipping away to pray amidst a busy ministry.
- 1 John 4:19: States that love for God stems from His love for us.
- Isaiah 52:14: Prophesies Jesus’ severe suffering, surpassing that of any man.
- Luke 7:47: Links forgiveness of many sins to great love for Jesus.
- Luke 5:8: Records Peter’s recognition of his sinfulness before Jesus.
- Deuteronomy 30:6: Promises God’s help to love Him with all one’s heart.
- Deuteronomy 30:15-20: Presents loving God as the path to life, contrasting with death from turning away.
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