Remember When

Let’s go back in time, over the days, months and years you have been a believer.  I think it is good at times to remember the things the Lord delivered you from because as time goes on they aren’t as fresh in your mind any more. 

I usually read a devotional by Rick Renner in the morning five or six days a week.  I have been reading the same devotional for maybe two or three years now, over and over, and I get some real insight about the Word of God and today was no exception.  My devotion today wasn’t about going back in time, it was about marriage, but I think that what Rick said about the guy’s role in marriage is comparable to our relationship with the Lord which includes the wife also.

Before people get married there is usually a courtship where the couple gets to know one another and spend a lot of time together getting to know things about each other.  It is a time when you are usually on your best behavior trying to win each other over.  You say special things and go on dates to places you both enjoy and as your love for one another progresses, you think about marriage and a lifelong relationship together.  After the couple gets married the honeymoon lasts for a time and everything is great then something happens.  In many cases, the honeymoon seems to wear off and kids come along and the couple isn’t spending near as much time together as they used to and little by little they start drifting apart.

Yes, they still live in the same place, but many start losing that intimate relationship they once had with each other and, like I said, they start drifting apart.  Then what can take place is things become mechanical, doing the same thing day in and day out to the point that when the kids go off to college or get married, the couple hardly knows each other anymore, if the relationship lasts that long.  They neglected to keep that intimate relationship going throughout their marriage.  Maybe, if they would have remembered and thought back to what made their relationship great in the first place and practiced what they used to do together, they would have rekindled the fire they had together at one time and things would have turned out so much better.  I know there are other factors that hurt marriages also but that will have to wait for some other time.

Now think of your relationship with the Lord:

Do you still have that same zeal as you did in the beginning or is your

relationship growing a little distant and a little colder?  

Do you spend the same amount of time with Him as you once did or have

other things crowded in taking precedence in your life?  

Do you spend as much time in the Word, prayer and ministry as you once

did or are some other things taking you away from that, also

occupying a lot of your time?  

Do you still find as much time to just praise and thank the Lord for His

surpassing greatness, mercy and love that He has for you as well as

the many blessings He has so graciously bestowed upon you, to say

nothing about saving your soul and preparing a place for you in

heaven and delivering you from the bondage of sin?

Sometimes as time goes on believers can get very complacent, satisfied and content in the place where they are and stop growing becoming stagnate and their relationship with the Lord isn’t what it used to be, that is the time it may be good to look back and do the things you used to do, so you will once again have a vibrant relationship with the Lord.  The church of the Laodiceans had a halfhearted relationship with the Lord and He said this to them, it is found in Revelations 3:14-22:

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Lord also said this to the church of Ephesus in Revelations 2:1-5:

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ‘I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, 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. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.’”

We all have a responsibility before the Lord to always put Him first in our lives and if we will do that, He will be pleased with us.  Something to think about, may the good Lord bless you and yours and may your day be a super one!!