Re-Calibrating Our Values Pt 2 Series

Even though they stood strong against false teaching they lost their passion for Christ. What is a “first love”? That is the fresh love and passion that initially propelled their relationship. Fiery, exclusive, all-consuming, engaged, sacrificial, focused, creative, spontaneous, constant. Jesus called the church to action. He calls us to action today.

1. Remember! Can you remember when your passion for God was greater than it is now?

2. Repent!

3. Return! Do what you did at first!

The consequences for failure to repent and return are a lost witness. We will no longer be a witness for the Light of the World. Hebrews 12 fervently warns against falling short of His grace, allowing bitter roots to proliferate, and living by temporal values. His warning?

For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

You are surrounded by a spiritual reality more awesome than the physical manifestation of Mt Sinai.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

So what are we urged to do?

See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. (Listen!) For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:18-29

God calls us to attentively listen and gratefully serve. How acceptable has your service to God been? A passion for a life of comfort or a passion for a life of commitment to His eternal purposes? We have allowed so much stuff get in the way of our pursuit of God. We have pursued other things to fill our cup. Pleasures or possessions or prominence. Test it! Try eliminating them for a period of time. Like an addict, we think we can stop any time but when we try to quit there is excruciating withdrawal. Are you willing to go on a week-long fast?

AW Tozer penned this most candid prayer.