First love

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2.4

The church in Ephesus was supposed to be a reference of the Lord Jesus on Earth: with good works and perseverance, they had been proven and approved by the Lord and everything else. But their passion for souls had faded and in its place came another ...
However, the compassion of the Lord gives us a new chance to get back to what we were before. It's just a matter of wanting it and taking action.

The First Love

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2.4

The leaving of the first love happens when there is an exchange for another love. What good is for a husband to provide comfortable living, jewelry, luxury and money but to be absent to his wife? The same is with those who give the best of themselves in the church but, at their hearts, Jesus no longer occupies the first place.

Show us the Father

"Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, show us the Father'?" John 14.9

Those who are on the Lord Jesus must, as a rule, exude His perfume, have His image and manifest His character. If someone claims to have the Holy Spirit but does not reflect the image of God, he deceives himself.

Hatred

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15.18

The feeling of hatred from the children of this world towards the children of God is part of carrying the cross. The Lord Jesus warned His disciples about it. It is waste of time trying to please God and the children of the world. It is more comfortable to keep the cross and take its sacrifices than trying to reconcile faith with the world.

High heels

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5.3

This was the first teaching of Jesus. At first glance, it does not seem to draw too much attention. However, this is the basis of deliverance and salvation. If a person does not become humble like a child, it is impossible to be born of the Holy Spirit. Is it not the truth that sets one free? But how can it freed someone proud? Impossible. Unfortunately, many people, despite being in the bottom of the pit, remain on top of their high heels shoes. 

The love God wants

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'do you love Me?'And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.'Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'" John 21.17

Why did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him? From my understanding, he wanted to teach about pure and true love. Just as faith requires attitude, love also requires action. Those who think that pure love is a feeling are completely wrong. It is not. Just as  and faith, it also requires sacrifices.

The Sacrifice said

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14.6

I thought the comment of Luiz Fabiano on my husband's blog to be very true: The Sacrifice said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 
This is a fact. Without sacrifice, it is impossible to reach God.

Covenant

“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." Genesis 17.4

Covenant, pact, marriage or accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior involves mutual commitment between creature and Creator. It is all about sacrifice from both parties. Jesus sacrificed and is still sacrificing as He endures our imperfections. From our part, the sacrifice is to surrender our will to do His. This agreement allows Him to be our Lord and God for all eternity.

Resentment

"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2.6

What is the point in confessing Jesus as Savior, be diligent in church, read the Bible, pray and fast, but at the same time, resent someone? Does this behavior has anything to do with Jesus? Is it possible to love God and hold grudges against anyone? Is this walking as Jesus walked?

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Matthew 6.14

If anyone...

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." Romans 8.9

Even before Paul revealed that, Jesus had already said: "... unless one is born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.” John 3:3;
Then he said: "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered..." John 15.6.
Finally, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20.15.
Do these verses require interpretation?

God is willing

"And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Matthew 8.2

Contrary to what suffering religious people and people in general have believed, the LORD God, through His Son Jesus, has shown that the source of fresh water cannot flow bitter water too. The leper thought so, so he said "if you are willing." But God always wants the best for everyone.

Prudent

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matthew 7.24-25

Building a house on the rock requires more time, money and overall effort. However, once ready, nor even tsunamis are not able to bring it down.
The same applies to one who builds his life on Jesus. That is, listening and practicing His Word.

The wise

"Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like." Luke 6.47

Wisdom is a virtue that few possess. Not because it is only available to a few people. But because few are willing to pay the price to acquire it.
The teachings of Jesus, when practiced, can materialize the impossible dreams. Those who are wise invest in it and reap a lifetime of distinction from the foolish.

Purified faith

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ"           1 Peter 1.6-7

Persecution, infamy, injustice, misunderstanding and everything else that we suffer because of our faith in Jesus are part of our trials. They may feel cruel and unjust, but it matures faith for salvation of the soul. Were it not so, surely the Spirit of God would not allow us to go through it. 

The Promise

"...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3.14

Abraham was the firstfruits of God to bless his descendants. He typified Jesus, the Firstborn of God, to bless the Jews who believe.
Jesus came to extend the Abrahamic blessing to the Gentiles who believe in Him. This blessing is not limited to material possessions, but above all, to receive His Spirit.

Firstfruits

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." James 1.8

Through the Lord Jesus, the Word, each one of those who are born of the Holy Spirit is God's first fruits, His firstborn, His tithe, His property, holiness to Him, in short, they are children of God.
Do you think this a small thing?
Then, wait until you get to the glorious New Jerusalem to see what the Almighty has in store for each of His own.

To trust vs. To believe

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." John 7.38

When you believe in Jesus according to the Scripture, the Holy Spirit must flow. If the Holy Spirit is not flowing, it is because there is no trust, but mere belief.

Believing is like the dating period where there is no commitment from either party. But trust relates to marriage, where both parties commit themselves to one another for the rest of their lives.

Most Christians think they trust when in reality they simply believe.

The Word

"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." 1 John 5.7

Jesus is the Word. His disciples take his word as a rule of life, behavior and character. If there are no such provisions in Christian conduct it is because that person has nothing to do with Jesus. They are simply chaff.

If...

"For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure,We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us." 2 Timothy 2.11-12

We will live with Jesus IF we died with Him.

We will reign with Him IF we persevere. IF we deny Him, He will deny us.

In other words, the victory over death is conditioned by the attitudes of sacrificial faith: to die, to persevere and not to deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

Which is greater?

"Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?" Matthew 23.17

The question of Jesus to the hypocrites of that time serves us well nowadays. The offering is not more important than the One who receives it and sanctifies it. The sacrifice of Isaac, was not more important than the obedience of his father. God sees the faith, the spirit that moves the heart of the offering giver.