Love More Than Hate

Note: This devotion goes along with the sermon preached this past Sunday morning.

Ephesians 2:1-7

As I was reading Jesus’ assessment of the Church of Ephesus, there were a few of things that stood out to me.

First their zeal. Jesus compliments them on their works, their labor, their patience, and their hatred for false doctrine and false teachers.

Secondly, they hated the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which was a group that taught “Antinomism” or more simply known as “cheap grace with a license to sin.” These two things Christ complimented them in and they were very proud of their stand for truth in a relativistic age.

But the third thing that stood out to me the most is really what got me. They had left their first love. They had their Zeal and faithfulness to hate the things that the Lord hated, but lost their passion and zeal for what the Lord wants us to love and that is Himself, one another, and our neighbor.

So here is the question? Does your love for God and others surpass the hatred that you have for sin and evil? Does your love outweigh your hate? There are some things that the Bible teaches us that we are not to love; such as the world which is made up of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We are to hate the very garment spotted by the flesh. But as much as we should hate and despise these things we should love God, one another, and neighbor with more passion, more zeal, and more fervency.

In others words we should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourself. This is the law of Christ!

So what do we do if our hate outweighs our love? Do as Jesus said to the Ephesus:

Remember our first love

Repent (Turn from the coldness of heart)

Re-do the first works over again

To put it simply, “Fall in love with Jesus Christ again!”

I want to encourage you to reflect back to the place and time when you fell in love with Jesus Christ and warm by the fire of his passion and love for you!

Pastor Robby