The people of Hosea’s day attended worship services faithfully. They gave regularly to the work of the temple. They made all the right sacrifices. There was nothing lacking in their religious observance. What was lacking was genuine love in the midst of their religious routines. “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight” (Hosea 6:4).
These verses from Hosea are reminiscent of Jesus’ message to the church of Ephesus, “I know your works… and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:2-4). The problem is that being faithful to a religious routine isn’t a substitute for genuine love and it isn’t what God desires. Look what He says to His people, “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God isn’t interested in what we do for Him, He is interested in our relationship with Him.
What about you? Have you ever felt like you are just going through the religious motions? Maybe you go to church pretty regularly, you give some money to God’s work in the world, and you may even sacrifice some time to serve others. But, like the people of Hosea’s day, your love for Jesus seems to fade as quickly as the morning mist.
So what is the solution to fading love in the midst of religious faithfulness? Jesus gave 3 things we can do to rekindle our love for Him, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5).
What do you need to do (or stop doing) today, this week, this month to rekindle your love for Jesus?
These verses from Hosea are reminiscent of Jesus’ message to the church of Ephesus, “I know your works… and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:2-4). The problem is that being faithful to a religious routine isn’t a substitute for genuine love and it isn’t what God desires. Look what He says to His people, “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God isn’t interested in what we do for Him, He is interested in our relationship with Him.
What about you? Have you ever felt like you are just going through the religious motions? Maybe you go to church pretty regularly, you give some money to God’s work in the world, and you may even sacrifice some time to serve others. But, like the people of Hosea’s day, your love for Jesus seems to fade as quickly as the morning mist.
So what is the solution to fading love in the midst of religious faithfulness? Jesus gave 3 things we can do to rekindle our love for Him, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5).
- Consider - take some time and reflect on a time when your love for Jesus was fresh and vibrant. Where were you in life? Who was in your life? How did that season feel?
- Repent - Sometimes we need to stop doing some good things so we can get back to the main thing. Have you let family schedules get too busy? Has work taken away your margin for meditation?
- Do the things you did at first - What were some of the things you once did that stoked your love for Jesus? Are there some old favorite worship songs that used to inspire your heart that you haven’t listened to in a while? Did you used to journal or take prayer walks? Did you used to read biographies of missionaries or go on outreaches?
What do you need to do (or stop doing) today, this week, this month to rekindle your love for Jesus?
Posted in devo