May 17th

For His Name's Sake

I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left you first love. Revelation 2:2-4

What is the driving force behind your actions?

Have you ever thought about that? Why do you do what you do? It's a big question, and one that certainly deserves an answer.

As we look through scripture, we see one of the driving forces behind what the Lord does, and it's His name. He does things for His name's sake. Just look through scripture and you'll see gobs of examples-Samuel, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others all write about the things that God does for His name's sake.

Jesus takes it a step further in Luke 21:12-13, saying, But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

See, here Jesus is saying that unbelievers will do things to us for His name's sake. He's saying that we will be persecuted because we live for the name of Jesus Christ.

So God is driven to act because of His name's sake-His name is on the line. We are driven to act because of God's name, because we represent His name and His reputation is on the line in our lives. But even if we do this well, there is something deeper that we need to remember-love.

Specifically, we need to remember our first love, which had better be Jesus. Look at our verses today. Now, I imagine that most of us would love to have those things said of us; it seems like pretty high praise from Jesus, until you get to the end.

Really, I mean, yikes. How wonderful it is for us to live for the sake of the name of Jesus, but let us never forget the heart that those actions come from-a heart that absolutely loves Jesus above and before all else.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for loving me for Your name's sake! Please let Your love grow in my heart as I choose to love You. May my love for You always grow until it is the motivation behind all that I do!

Amen