Power to Overcome:
Standing Firm – Part 2
Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:9-14
Key Verse: Matthew 24:12-13
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Continuing from yesterday’s devotional, I found it sobering to hear Jesus predict that the love of most will grow cold. That means that those who fall in this category (the majority) once had a passionate love for God. That means their love for the world took a second seat to their love for God. They once made every decision of their life based on whether it would please God or not.
How did this group slip from their secure position? (2 Peter 3:17). How quickly did it happen and how aware were they that it was happening? My guess, based on 35 years of ministry, is that it did not happen quickly and their awareness slowly vanished over a period of time.
Losing one’s passionate love for God starts by isolating oneself from the family. People let the busyness of their lives and their children’s lives pull them away from the weekly encouragement of worship. We are warned not to let that happen in Hebrews 10:25. Without the weekly encouragement comes the diminishing level of obedience. Slowly the temptations to compromise our standards win more and more of our allegiance. Little by little our passion for the godly lessens and the passion for the worldly increases. The voice of the Holy Spirit, which was strong at first, grows weaker and weaker as the individual ignores the quiet whispers. “Stand firm,” Jesus cries out. Will you?
Father, help me see any slipping of my level of love and obedience to you. I am determined to correct and stand firm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.