Devotion (The Trumpeter):
His standards are high

Revelation 2:5KJV

  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Contrary to what has been preached to some Christians, “grace” or the “love of God” doesn’t mean a compromise. God doesn’t compromise on His standards and will never.

The love of God implies a patient longsuffering and forbearance call on one to repent. Paul says,

“Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?……Romans 2:4KJV”

The goodness of God ought to lead one to repentance; His love ought to lead one to a change of mind, attitude and character.

It is a mock of God and His Grace when the Christian assumes it as a license to live and walk in sin. God is not to be mocked. The Bible says,

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting…Galatians 6:7-8KJV”

Paul didn’t say this to unbelievers but to the Galatia Christians. He warned them not to be deceived by false teachers.

In His oracular address to the seven churches in Asia Minor, the Lord Jesus commended the Ephesian Christians.

He commended them for their labor, works and patience. How they couldn’t stand evil workers and the deeds of the Nicolaitans. He admired them for these works of righteousness, even how they tried those who called themselves Apostles but were liars.

After all these, one would have expected the Lord to have been satisfied but He wasn’t.

He went on to warn them concerning where they have fallen short and called on them to repent. He said,

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent”

Not only were they to repent but there was going to be consequences if they didn’t.

Why? This is because God’s standards are high. It’s because of His high standards that He brought in the new creature (church). If not, He would have taken the Jews as they were.

There are Christians who live with the erroneous impression that because they do certain wonderful deeds, they can ignore other areas where they themselves know that they have fallen short but it is not so with God.  You ought to work towards such areas.

Jesus said,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit….John 15:1-2KJV”

He is always after more fruits.

God bless you!

Confession

I believe with my heart that Jesus is the very Son of God that He came to die for me and was raised up by God the Father. I confess Him as the Lord of my life from this day forward. Hallelujah!  I am born again