Dear Saints,

In this Wednesday Night’s study on Revelation 2:1-7, in which we saw that Jesus condemns the Church of Ephesus for losing its first love for Him (which ultimately killed their local church), we were challenged to love God more, especially in how we approach Him in worship together to hear Him speak through His Word to our hearts by His Spirit.

A quote from a recent daily devotion, This Day in Presbyterian History, commenting on Shorter Catechism Question 80, is poignant here about our spiritual posture (seen in our bodily posture):

Let us not simply sit at “zombies” in the chairs of our homes, or the pews of the church, when the Word of God is read in family devotions, or Sunday worship.  Let us constantly be in prayer when the Bible is read, that it might bring forth spiritual fruit unto salvation, and holiness of life, and preparation for service.

Think also of the kind of enthusiasm and devotion we ought to have about Christ’s Kingdom all the time:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)

Come with that kind of fervor for the risen Lord Jesus Christ this Sabbath.  That is, be sold out for Jesus, and don’t sell yourself out to anything or anyone else.  Keep finding Him, and keep being found in Him, anew.  And worship Him with your whole heart.  That kind of devotion happens through deliberate effort and preparation.  Deliberate effort and preparation come from taking a Person seriously, and caring deeply about Him and His People.

Semper Reformanda,
Pastor Grant