“But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].”  (Revelation 2: 4 – AMP) 

“However, I have this against you: The love you had at first is gone.”  (Revelation 2: 4 – GW)

The more I spend time with the Lord the more I realize how much I don’t know. In fact, I begin to see the need for my total dependence on Him. The verse, “…without Him I can do nothing” becomes a revelation (John 15:5). In the Greek, that word “nothing” means “nothing.” I don’t know how people, even good Christian people, make it through this thing called life without knowing God.

Many people know plenty about God. They can quote Scripture, say all the right things, and go through the designated motions of Christianity. Yet they STILL do not know Him. There is a huge difference between the two. Jesus makes a sobering statement in Matthew 7:23 when He says, “I never knew you, depart from me…” That’s rough considering He was talking to those who called Him, “Lord.” I want to know Him, not just know about Him.

Jesus has totally transformed my life as I have committed myself to spend time with Him alone. You know, they always say you become who you hang out with. That is a good thing when you are hanging out with the right people. I can’t think of a better one to hang out with than God Himself and His Son, Jesus. The Word says the Holy Spirit will “guide us into the full truth” and that He will “speak what He hears and tell us about things to come” (John 16:13). I want those things. I want the inside scoop concerning my life.

God always wants to share His goodness and His plans with us. Nevertheless, if we don’t give Him the time to do this, I am not sure we’ll be open to hear it all. God is an awesome God and it will take all of eternity to get to know Him. Yes, I already have Him in my heart, but I want to continue in the pursuit of knowing Him.

In Him, Pastor Kevin Kinchen

kevinkinchen@gmail.com

A few weeks ago I posted a devotion on Facebook ( June 8 at 8:11 PM ), and I challenged people to write what they thought about the verse, “James 5:15.” I also told the people I would write about what I saw in that verse. So, here it is…

The KJV version jumped out at me when it said, “the prayer of faith shall SAVE the sick” and “the Lord shall RAISE HIM UP.” Do you SEE what it’s saying? Those words are not wishy-washy. They are direct. They are solid like a rock, a rock in the side of a mountain that has not moved in thousands and thousands of years.

Then I looked at the same verse in the God’s Word version. It said, “Prayers offered in faith will SAVE those who are sick” and “the Lord will CURE THEM.” I love that! Once again, “faith WILL.“ I know… You’re thinking that you must not have enough faith because it doesn’t work for you. Well, tell me this, “How much faith does it take to get healed?” According to Jesus it doesn’t take much because He said, “With only a little bitty mustard seed you can blow a mountain to smithereens.” And, He doesn’t expect us to do everything. That’s why He said, “the Lord will CURE THEM.” I could go some more on this but I want to finish with this…

… Did you notice how the verse ended? It said, “… and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” And in the God’s Word Bible it says, “If you have sinned, you will be forgiven.” Do you realize how serious God is when it comes to sin? We have to remember that God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross so we could be rid of our sins. A lot of people think God is the one that makes us sick. That’s ridicules. Why would a loving Father make their children sick just to get their sins washed away. Especially when they could get healed AND have their sins washed away at the same time.

(KJV)  And the prayer of faith shall SAVE the sick, and the Lord shall RAISE HIM UP; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

(GW)  Prayers offered in faith will SAVE those who are sick, and the Lord will CURE THEM. If you have sinned, you will be forgiven.

THINK ABOUT IT.

In Him, Pastor Kevin Kinchen

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