Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily devotional where we are in our Summer Inspiration series. Today, we reflect on God’s desire that we have faithful love for Him.
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‘“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.”’ (Hosea 6:4)
God challenges His people about the nature of their love for Him. Their love is up and down - it blows hot and cold. We see in God’s Word that God’s people often return to Him when they are in trouble, only to fall into compromise and idolatry when things are easier.
This cycle of love that’s ‘like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears’ is something that we are all prone to. Maybe our love for God is inflamed after a good Sunday meeting; after a conference; after reading a book on revival or through a period of trial… However, our love can then grow cold after this period of spiritual revival.
How can we stop this cycle? Of course, God does work in seasons when the Spirit is working in more intense ways. We have periods of revival to greater or lesser extent. However, this being the case, our love and worship should remain constant. We can keep our love for God alive through seeking Him. Through time with Him. Intimacy creates love. Taking time to express your love and receive of His love is the key to faithfulness. My father-in-law used to encourage me in regard to marriage: “Keep courting”, and surely the same wisdom applies in our relationship to God.
All of our relationships - with God and people - are like a ship going on a long voyage. Throughout the voyage, because of tides, winds and waves, the ship is taken off course in small ways that, if not corrected, will add up to missing the destination! So, we need to course correct constantly. We are to keep redirecting our hearts toward loving God. Let’s finish by reflecting on these words from Christ that express His zeal for our love:
‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.’ (Revelation 2:4-5)
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday was entitled, Rejoice and take refuge. From Psalm 64, we saw that the reality of our Christianity is seen by what we rejoice and take refuge in - a Christian, above all else, rejoices (celebrates) and takes refuge (seeks salvation) in the cross.
Please read Psalms 64:10 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What are the various things that people put at the heart of Christianity and what you say is at the heart of Christianity and why?
How do you ‘rejoice’ in the gospel?
How do you take ‘refuge’ in the gospel?
What does Ephesians 6:11-15 say about how we are to protect ourselves with the gospel?
SIV - How is this text our message to those outside of faith?
SIV - How will ‘rejoicing and taking refuge’ in Jesus lead us into faithful mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend s
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