“And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.”
Deuteronomy 31:18
There is the heart of the problem—idolatry. They had turned to other gods. Something else, some other activity, took God’s place. Instead of leading the heathen nations to God, they had left God to worship the heathen gods.
Anything above God is idolatry.
~Richard Sibbes~
We see here in the beginning of the word, “You have left your first love. Rev2:4. The Church looked like it was right on they hated sin and had great works but that was all it was, all works. God was not the priority any longer. Often serving is done for the wrong reasons and it becomes a burden or burnout starts to take place. Examine your heart, why are you doing it, and to whom are you doing it. God does not need us we need Him.
2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
If Jesus is not your first love then everything is idolatry. I can not place one ministry over another. Serving children or teaching from the pulpit and everything else is all the same in God's eyes.
If you look like you have it all together but you are miserable perhaps do what the Lord told them.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
תגובות