"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers;" (Ephesians 1:15-16; AMP)
In the above Scripture verse, Paul was commending the believers at Ephesus for their faith in our Lord Jesus and their love for all God's people.
Alas, many years later, the church in Ephesus was chided by the Lord Jesus for having lost their first love for Him in the Book of Revelation.
"But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]." (Revelation 2:4; AMP)
I submit to you that it is harder to love people whom we have seen than to love God whom we have not seen. After all, God is love, and all people are work-in-progress of growing from glory to glory in love, at best.
"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:20; AMP)
Let us establish our faith in Christ alone by being His follower; a disciple who practices spiritual disciplines such as : hearing, reading, studying, meditating and memorising God's Word; praying in fullness of faith; praising and worshipping God wholeheartedly; fasting from desires of the flesh; trusting and obeying God's Word all the time; and giving tithes and offerings regularly.
Remember, our calling is not to be a church member or a cell group member. We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ who would grow unto maturity as His sons and daughters, friends, and kings and priests. We need to have our own Quiet Time with the LORD and know Him personally. Do not neglect Him and relegate our personal time with the LORD to corporate settings with the Pastor or your Cell Group Leader.
When you have a personal walk with the LORD, it doesn't matter whether your family and friends are in church or cell group. You are there to meet with the LORD in the presence of other believers. Meeting with the LORD is not just a social gathering; join a recreation club if you are looking for social interactions per se.
Even if there is no physical church to attend like during a lockdown, you will still enter into the Presence of God at home like what you are already doing in your Quiet Time with Him.
Keep loving the Lord Jesus and give Him the preeminence in your life. And, keep loving other people.
"And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him." (I John 4:21; AMP)
In a corporate setting, extending warmness is a good starting point. I have met other believers who are sincerely warm with the love of Christ shining forth (quite rare, but they do exist in the body of Christ). Imagine how wonderful this would be, especially if you are on the receiving end as a new visitor.
Question for us to contemplate: Are we believers who are looking out for our family and friends only while treating everyone else as aliens in a corporate setting as we are consumed to reserve seats and plot where to go for a meal after the service?
Hear then the Words of our Lord Jesus:
"I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” (John 13:34-35; AMP)
We need to deepen our love for God as well as enlarge our love for one another with help of the Holy Spirit and in obedience to the Lord Jesus.
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