“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love” (Eph. 6:24). “I fear that just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent, somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted” (2 Cor.11:3).
Lord Jesus, this week like every week, our greatest privilege, main calling, and most heart-liberating commitment will be to love you. Not merely admire or greatly appreciate you. Not just think you were the greatest person, leader, or teacher who ever lived. No… 1000 times “No.” We are to love you with a living and “undying love.”
When it comes to investing our attention, affection, adoration, and allegiance, Jesus, there’s just you, and no one and nothing else. You don’t merely deserve first place in our lives—as though there’s a close 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Whatever we think about spiritual warfare and the schemes of the devil, it all comes down to this. The “serpent” is always trying to diminish, divert, and destroy our love for you—overtly and covertly. When we don’t make spending time with you and abiding in your love a priority, it all goes downhill from there.
Good things supplant the main thing, then bad things even supplant good things. We get more susceptible to fear, worry, and anger; and sinning with our thoughts, words, and choices becomes easy, too easy.
What is our only hope, Jesus? We’re not saved to the degree we love you. We’re saved because you first loved us and gave yourself for us. Though our love for you waxes and wanes—is sometimes really intense and other times really fickle, your love for us is absolute, unwavering, and inexhaustible. We are now, and forever, grateful. So Very Amen.