When Love Grows Cold

Revelation 2:1-7 || Sunday, August 23

We looked at the first of the Seven Churches of Asia: Ephesus. What gripped my heart was that we could have everything right written on paper, seek to live a life of holiness, and still have hearts cold to Christ.

The Lord commands the church to repent and return to where it fell from. I can assure you this did not happen overnight, and I can also assure you no one intended it. This is a slow fade: trying to make the dish look good on the outside, but on the inside it’s empty. As I reflected on this, I asked myself: What are some indicators that my heart has grown cold to Christ? One clear indicator, I think, is how I come off to those closest to me.

If my heart is warm to Christ, if I am in awe of the truth that He loves me despite me and that I am covered in His righteousness, then I will be warm, gracious, sacrificial, long-suffering, and patient with those around me. This begs the question. How would those closest to you say you made them feel this week? How would your spouse speak of your posture and actions towards them? How would those in the row in front of you or behind you at church say you made them feel?

Because Jesus tells us, “all men will know you are my disciples,” not if you have the best theology and confront everyone who does not (although that is important), nor if you are the holiest and refuse to conform to the culture around you (although that is important). Jesus says, “All men will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” I pray you warm your Heart by the all-consuming fire that is Christ, and you see evidence that you have been with Jesus because of how you love others.

Your friend,

Austin Hamilton