“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, you too will be lead away from whole-hearted love and devotion to Jesus (pp 2 Cor.11:3). “I remember the love you first had for Me and for others—that season when I mattered more to you than anything else. Remember, repent, and return.” (pp Rev.2.4-5)
Lord Jesus, our greatest privilege, main calling, and most heart-liberating commitment in life is 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.” You don’t merely deserve 1st 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 seeking to diminish, divert, and destroy our love for you. When we don’t make spending time with you and abiding in your love a priority, it all goes downhill from there. You become an add-on in life, not our life itself (Col. 3:4, Phil.1:21)
Good things supplant the main thing; then mindless and meaningless things even supplant good things. We become more susceptible to fear and worry, anger and sin. Everything in our lives and every relationship we share pay the price for our heart-cooling and heart-drift from you.
So, Lord Jesus—by your Spirit, Word, and grace, please renew, refresh, and restore our love for you. Only your love is better than life, and you alone are worthy of our affection, adoration, attention, and allegiance. So Very Amen.