Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind. He makes human flesh his strength, and his heart turns from the Lord. —Jeremiah 17:5
A major city in western Asia Minor, Ephesus was a center of early Christianity. But over the years, the Christians there had somehow lost sight of the Savior. They had transferred their affection elsewhere, and this deviation threatened to cost them dearly.
God wants us to love Him first and foremost. When we find ourselves trusting in people instead, this indicates that our heart’s focus has shifted from Him. Love for people—friends, family members, or even ourselves—can compete with our love for Him (Matt. 10:37). Other substitutes for a God-centered love relationship may include money, pleasure, friends, work, the teachings of respected leaders, or Bible knowledge without a relationship with Christ.
Revival doesn’t begin when struggling, wayward people decide to return to the Lord but rather when the loving heavenly Father, wanting His people to enjoy the safety and security of His love, calls them back to Himself. God is the initiator; the call to revival is a plea of love from His heart.
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Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival ©2009 Life Action Ministries
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
What are some things that may be competing with your love for God?