General Daily Devotion: Our Daily Bread, 9 Feb 03

Our Daily Bread, Radio Bible Class ^ | 9 Feb 03 | Mart De Haan II

[xzins]

February 9, 2003

Desert Of Diversion

Read: Revelation 2:1-7

You have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. —Revelation 2:4-5

Bible In One Year: Numbers 15-17

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Muynak was once a thriving fishing port on the Aral Sea. But today Muynak sits on the edge of a bitter, salty desert. Sand dunes are strewn with the rusted, hollow hulls of a fishing fleet that once sailed high above on the surface of Central Asia's fountain of life.

Things began changing around 1960 when Soviet government planners began diverting the Aral's water source to irrigate the world's largest cotton belt. No one, however, envisioned the environmental disaster that would result. Weather has become more extreme, the growing season has been shortened by 2 months, and 80 percent of the region's farmland has been ruined by salt storms that sweep in off the dry seabed.

What happened at Muynak parallels the history of the church of Ephesus. Once a thriving spiritual community, the Ephesian believers diverted their attention from Christ to the works they were doing in His name (Revelation 2:2-4). They had lost sight of what was most important in their relationship with Christ—their love for Him.

Lord, help us to recognize and repent of whatever it is that diverts our attention from loving You. Flood the desert of our souls with Your living water. —Mart De Haan II

The works we do in Jesus' name
And battles that are won
Will not be pleasing to the Lord
Unless in love they're done. —Sper

To renew your love for Christ, review Christ's love for you.

[xzins]

Our Daily Bread ping

prayer, devotion, fellowship, reflection


Lord God remind us of those days in our Christian walk when we walked more closely with You. Remind us of the joy that was ours through the Holy Spirit as we praised You, worshipped You, spoke to others of Christ, were Your obedient servants. I pray that we yearn for the days of our first love and that we return. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

[SpookBrat]

"The Ephesian believers diverted their attention from Christ to the works they were doing in His name (Revelation 2:2-4)."

Thanks for the very clear reminder. Have a blessed day.

[xzins]

Thanks, Spook.

Blessed Lord's Day to you, too.

[SpookBrat]

I appreciate this daily thread. The problem is...I'm not getting on here daily like I used to do. LOL I like reading it though. It's short and to the point. Helps me get my head screwed on right for my day. Thanks FRiend.

[Alamo-Girl]

Buuuuump!

[CARepubGal]

Thanks for the ping! This was timely as always :-)

[xzins]

Good to have you stopping by.

Blessed Lord's Day to you.

[TrueBeliever9]

"he who has an ear -- let him hear"

I love that!

[xzins]

Neat way of saying it, isn't it?

[BlackVeil]

But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Who were the Nicolaitans?

[The Grammarian]

Who are the Nicolaitans?

These were, as is commonly supposed, a sect of the Gnostics, who taught the most impure doctrines, and followed the most impure practices. They are also supposed to have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned Acts 6:5, where see the note. The Nicolaitanes taught the community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things indifferent, that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful; and mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies. Augustine, Irenaeus, Clemens Alexandrinus, and Tertullian, have spoken largely concerning them. See more in my preface to 2d Peter, where are several particulars concerning these heretics.

Adam Clarke's Commentary, Study Light.org