Prayer – Lord Jesus, You examine my heart and know me
even better than I know myself. Just as David asked, I ask You… How can
I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will
be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm
19:12-14
Write this letter to the angel of the church in
Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his
right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: "I know
all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I
know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those
who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You
have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint
against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look
how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at
first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its
place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of
the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the
Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is
victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” Revelation
2:1-7 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Love God. Love Others
Meditate. Consider your relationship to the Lord.
Who is this one who holds the seven stars and walks among
the seven gold lampstands? It is Jesus—our own Savior and Messiah.
Is Jesus really your Messiah? Do you have
a relationship with Him? This letter may have been written to the 144 thousand
Jews that will recognize Jesus as their Messiah during the End Times—but it is
also appropriate for Christians today to apply this word—to listen to the Spirit
and understand what is being said. Jesus examines everyone’s hearts and He
knows everything we do—our hard work and patient endurance. But look for
yourself. Do you love Him as you did when you first accepted Him as your Savior?
Do you…or did you ever…share that burning love in your heart for Him with
others? Jesus tells us to listen to the Spirit. Return to Him…repent. I
have to do that daily for some little and not so little things. I want to be
victorious—and receive from Jesus that fruit from the tree of life in the
paradise of God. How about you? Are you hungry enough for that fruit that
Jesus is offering to turn back to Him whole heartedly and love Him and others
the way you did when you first accepted Him as your Savior? How is your
relationship with Him and with others?
Verse of Salvation ~ Do not neglect the spiritual gift
you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church
laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw
yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close
watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the
sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1
Timothy 4:14-16
© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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