“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”
"And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ."
(2 Corinthians 11:3)
Everything in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ orbits around ‘simple and pure devotion’. Unfortunately, too many bemoan the true condition of their devotional journey. Be sure that what is under the most attack in your life is authentic, spontaneous, simple and pure Christ-centered devotion. Our thought life, finances, disciplines, motivation; everything else comes a distant second to this.
It has always been the number one tactic of the 'serpent'; to steal away, through seducing, smooth talking patter and crafty deception your devotion to Jesus. It is rightfully yours! By legal right, Jesus won back for us by His finished work on Calvary, the divine exhilaration of being continually wooed by His awesome, divine, love affair! This reciprocal, simple, pure devotion re-connects us to the Eden-like paradise of walking with His Father, by His Spirit.
It is here that we are shaped by Love...
"For the love which Christ has [for me] presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive, having brought me to this conclusion, namely, that One died on behalf of all, therefore all died." -2 Corinthians 5:14 (Wuest)
2 Cor. 5:14 Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. (Message)
So, be done with lesser things: (religion, politics, worldly opinions, education and the pride of intellect, entertainment, hedonistic, fleshly pursuits, the empty allure of success, fame and wealth, add yours to the list). Be shaped by love!
Don't let anything or anyone, but Jesus; press you, hold you or wrap around you! Allow this heavenly romance to be the impelling motive of your existence, to prohibit you from considering any other! Jesus died so we could die to the lesser and live to the greater.
Enraptured by simple and pure devotion to Jesus! Ron Ross
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