Today’s 333 Devotional: “First Love Works”

The word “work” has gotten a bad rap in Christianity, mainly because no one can work their way to heaven.

The Apostle Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

But Paul never meant for beleivers in Jesus Christ to do nothing. He goes on to say that we were actually created for good works.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

The problem is when we get into a works mentality leaving God out of the mix. This is what got the Ephesian church in trouble.

Jesus said that while their works were good, they had forgotten God in the process.

“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.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

So how can we do the works of God without leaving our first love relationship behind?

When Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesada, the Pharisees accused Him of breaking the law by working on the Sabbath. Jesus responded saying, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” (John 5:17)

And then He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:10)

Jesus set the precident for the type of work we ought to be doing as believers. We need to be about our Father’s business, and whatever we see Him doing, we need to join in with Him. The Great Commission is a good start.

This way we can work and not leave our first love.