Love or Duty?

"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first."

Revelations 2:2-4

Reading this passages shows us that it is possible to almost do every good thing a christian could do, and end up not loving the Lord. We could say that the first part of message given to the Church in Ephesus was a commendation. Yet, it was followed by a strong rebuke "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first".  What I could see sometimes in here is myself. When I feel my love for the Lord being dampened by the things of this world, I go back to these verses and meditate on it.  Then I see myself as a man so busy in the ministry, having a reputation of being alive from the outside yet dead inside (Rev. 3:1). We all know that the Lord looks at the heart, and He is much interested on who we are than on what we do. A church, like the one in Ephesus, could have every external marks of a healthy church: they endured patiently, they cannot bear those who are evil, they tested those who claim to be from God and proved them to be false. They even endured for the sake of the Name of their Lord Jesus Christ and they didn't grow weary. We might ask, what else could be done? That's exactly what we need in our churches today right? If we see a church like that today we would no less commend it. Yet, the Lord rebuked them. He could see their hearts. He could see straight in our hearts. His sight penetrates through our dead works no matter how much we hide our cold hearts with activities, good works, busyness in our ministries, bible studies or any form of religious act. He could see it all...

How much do you love Christ? We all love Christ from a degree. Does your heart burn for Him? Does the service you render to Him a form of love, or a form of duty? What is your motivation? Do you look constantly upon the cross? When you go to church, is it about you being blessed? Or you go to church so that you might bless God with your life? What is it all about? Is it about Him being sovereign in your life? Or being only a "part" of your life. Christ is never a part of your life. He is your life (Colossians 3:4).

See, the point being made in here is that we, as fallible creatures could easily be unaware of our standing before God, and mistake our love for Him with the things that we do for Him. Altogether, let us all savor His grace. Look back to the Cross. Do not be content. Challenge the love you have for Him. Test yourselves (II Corinthians 13:5). One thing that amazes me about Mary, the brother of Lazarus,  is that each time she appears in the gospel she was at the feet of Jesus Christ. Can we do that? To sit at the feet of our Maker and to see His glory and splendor. To love Him for who He is above all things. And so, perform our duties out of love and not out of responsibilities.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength..." 

Luke 10:27

Ashes from Yesterday's Revival

"O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."

Habakkuk 3:2

We don't expect revival nowadays. We love to talk about it, yes; we sing about it, we are interested in it, but we do not long for it. We do not labor for it in prayer. We live in the ashes of yesterdays revival. That's the truth whether we like it or not. Think of a church you personally know, which is having a revival. Can you name it? If yes, praise God.

We go to church, and we expect to get out of it before lunch. We don't expect revival to happen. We don't wait on God anymore. Waiting is no longer applicable in our busy schedules for we all have other things to do. So we improvise waiting upon the Lord with different kinds of program that will trigger emotion and send thrills within us, and so create a substitute for the fire of God.

Revival is a sovereign act of God in view of His mercy. It is not produced by human means. When genuine revival breaks out, all the conventional program of man will be overthrown. No flesh will be able to glory in God's presence (I Corinthians 1:29). It will all be pointed to God, all glory directed straight to Him.

We don't expect revival. Yes we want it, but if we don't get it its okay, because we have a bunch of substitute for it. If one day, the Lord will remove His Holy Spirit in the churches today, it will function just the same, and few will notice the Spirit's absence. And if it will be noticed, the question is will they be grieved for it? Will they weep and wrestle in prayer to get it back? Will they long for the fire of the Holy Spirit to return?

We have lost the fire. Some might say "Oh no! We're doing just fine!" That's what you think. If that's true, why is there such carnality in the church? Why are they so concerned about prosperity and wealth instead of holiness and righteousness? Why are they so intoxicated with the things that will fulfill their carnal appetite using the Word of God to justify their deeds?

We need revival. Yes. We need the fire of the Holy Ghost again. And I'm not talking about a bunch of congregation jumping up and down while singing then go home and they call it revival. No. I'm talking about something so much beyond that. I'm talking about a group of people who are sensitive about their sin and iniquities that they decided to humble themselves and seek the Lord in holiness and righteousness no matter what the cost. They are a people committed to the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These group of people will have a passion to glorify God and no other, and their passion has utterly consumed them that it becomes so contagious that it will spread like wildfire, until no one is left unaffected by it.

God, we need revival...