Growing communities, rooted in God’s love and story, reaching out and restoring lives.
This vision statement was crafted last year by the elders of our local church. They recognized that certain practices and traditions were holding our congregation back from true spiritual vitality in Jesus. The statement has helped guide the elders as they’ve made changes they believe will encourage our people to love God, one another, and others better.
Sometimes we can fall in love with practices and traditions at the peril of losing our love for Jesus. He addressed this in the words He gave to the apostle John in the book of Revelation. In chapters Revelation 2:1–3:22 we find letters for seven churches in which Jesus brought kudos and/or warnings to the congregations.
The church at Ephesus received commendation for “hard work,” “patient endurance,” suffering, and the repelling of false teachers (Revelation 2:2-3). But then Jesus said, “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!” (Revelation 2:4-5). The Ephesian believers were faithful, but they had lost their deep love for God and for one another. Perhaps the immense wealth and independence of Ephesus had rubbed off on them or persecution and suffering had worn them down.
What was Jesus’ plaintive and powerful remedy for the church? Turn back to me (Revelation 2:5).
It’s good for us to take those words to heart as well. What “good things” like traditions and practices have replaced our passion for Jesus? What material things or hardships have robbed us of our love for Him and other believers?
As Paul wrote, without real love we’re “nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). May we turn back to Jesus and His great love today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 10:35-52
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and meditate on what it says true love is all about.
Next:
What thoughts and emotions filled your heart and mind when you first received Jesus as your Savior? How will a deeper love relationship with your “First Love” affect your love for others?
Gary Shultz on August 26, 2015 at 6:46 am
I think everyone has a different story of origin went it comes to being born into God’s family. As a boy I just knew I had two choices, God’s heaven and Satan’s hell. For me a no-brain’r, whatever it took I was in; however, I had little knowledge to even know what I was supposed to do or become. So, life has had it’s up and downs, but always heading me to my original choice, heaven, and getting to know it’s King better the closer I get. The more I know about Him, the more I am able to reciprocate with love to others. I’ll take my relationship now as opposed to several decades ago. Thanks for listening. I like your church’s statement too.
Tom Felten on August 26, 2015 at 8:40 am
Thanks, Gary. I appreciate you sharing your story of being shaped over the years by God’s grace. Praise God that He began a good work in us and is faithful to complete it! (Philippians 1:6).
Marlena Graves on August 26, 2015 at 2:31 pm
In my case, hardships experienced at the hands of other Christians, or watching other Christians hurt others while feeling helpless can impoverish my love. But turning back to Jesus, our first love, as you pointed out, filters my hurts and prejudices and puts me back on the way.
Tom Felten on August 26, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Me too, Marlena. It’s troubling when believers act in unloving ways. May God give us tender hearts for Him, for one another, and for those who don’t yet know Him!