2026-02-08 AWAKEN MY CHURCH

Awaken Your Worship: Rediscovering Your First Love for Jesus

Ever notice how easy it is to stay busy for God while slowly drifting away from Him?

In the late 1990s, Mars Hill Church in Seattle exploded onto the scene. Thousands attended. Sermons went viral. Books flew off shelves. From the outside, it looked like a movement of God—and in many ways, it was. But underneath the growth, something was quietly unraveling. Relationships fractured. Trust eroded. Leaders clashed. And eventually, the church dissolved entirely. Not because they lacked resources or theology, but because they lost something far more fundamental: love practiced over time.

Churches don't usually lose their love for God overnight. It's a drift—slow, quiet, and often respectable.

The Church That Had Everything (Except What Mattered Most)

In Revelation 2, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus—a congregation that would make any pastor envious. They worked tirelessly. They guarded sound doctrine. They exposed false teachers. They refused to tolerate evil. If Ephesus existed today, we'd invite them to speak at conferences and ask, "How did you do it?"

Yet Jesus delivers a devastating diagnosis: "You have abandoned the love you had at first" (Revelation 2:4).

They didn't stop believing truth. They didn't stop doing good works. They stopped loving Jesus. Somewhere along the way, defending the faith replaced delighting in the Savior. Service replaced intimacy. Activity replaced affection.

Think about marriage for a moment. You can tell your spouse "I love you" daily. You can check every box on the household to-do list. But you know what they really want? To be with you. Not just words. Not just tasks. Presence.

That's what Jesus wants from us too.

Remember, Repent, Return

Jesus doesn't abandon His church—He invites her back. His prescription is simple but profound:

Remember where you've fallen. Recall the joy you felt when Jesus first saved you. Remember the cross—God's greatest declaration of love, where Jesus took your punishment and gave you life.

Repent—not just feeling sorry, but turning your face back toward Jesus. Maybe your gaze has drifted to opinions, activities, or even good things that have replaced the best thing.

Return to the works you did at first. Not new programs or busier schedules, but simple obedience fueled by love.

Church history tells us Ephesus listened. Early records describe a church that returned to joyful devotion, united in love for Christ. They didn't end in failure—they came home.

Your Invitation to Return

Highland Baptist Church isn't just talking about ancient Ephesus or a Seattle megachurch. We're talking about us. About you.

Are we busy but cold toward Jesus? Faithful to show up but distracted from loving Him? Orthodox in belief but uninspired to love difficult people because of Him?

Jesus walks among His church today—in our hallways, classrooms, and conversations. Nothing escapes His gaze. And He's inviting us deeper.

Here's your challenge: For the rest of this month, pray this simple prayer daily: "Father, grow my worship of You by growing my love for You."

A church awakened isn't one that does more—it's one that loves Christ first. Let's be great at making Jesus famous by how deeply we love Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we remember when You were our greatest joy. Forgive us where duty has replaced delight, where busyness has crowded out intimacy. We return to You not with promises, but with surrendered hearts. Grow our worship by growing our love. In Your name, Amen.

2026-02-01 AWAKEN MY OBEDIENCE

Surrender Everything: Moving Beyond Partial Obedience to True Worship

Ever cleaned your room as a kid by shoving everything under the bed? From the hallway, it looked spotless—but open that closet door, and chaos tumbled out. We've all been there. But here's the uncomfortable truth: we do the same thing with God.

We show up on Sunday. We believe the right things. From the outside, our spiritual life looks pretty good. But what if God opened the closet of our hearts? What would spill out? Hidden pride? Secret thought patterns? A carefully curated image that says "I obey... sort of"?

The Danger of Almost Obedience

First Samuel 15 tells the story of King Saul, who received crystal-clear instructions from God: completely destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned. No exceptions. No negotiations. Total obedience.

Saul won the battle. He destroyed most of the enemy. He kept only the "best" livestock and spared the king. When confronted, he had his excuses ready: "We saved the best animals to sacrifice to God!" It sounded spiritual. It looked like victory.

But God called it disobedience.

The bleating sheep betrayed Saul's partial obedience. And God's response through the prophet Samuel cuts to the heart of worship: "Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?"

What's Your Pineapple?

Missionary Otto Koenig spent years in Papua New Guinea with little fruit to show for his labor. His one joy? A pineapple grove he'd planted and protected. When villagers kept stealing his pineapples, his anger grew until he nearly destroyed the entire crop himself.

At a missionary conference, God confronted him: "Otto, these are my pineapples. Why do you think they're yours?"

Everything changed when Otto surrendered his "right" to those pineapples. His anger dissolved. His ministry transformed. The villagers noticed—and eventually stopped stealing.

We all have pineapples. That relationship we won't release. That opinion we clutch tighter than Scripture. That area where we simply don't trust God enough to let go. We attend church, serve occasionally, maybe even tithe—but we're holding something back.

Partial obedience is complete disobedience. God doesn't want your performance. He wants your heart.

Living Sacrifice, True Worship

Here's the beautiful tension: we can't obey perfectly. Even on our best days, we fall short. That's why Jesus came. He obeyed fully where we fail constantly. He became the final sacrifice.

Now, because of His perfect obedience, Paul urges us in Romans 12:1 to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true worship."

True worship isn't a song lifted up—it's a life laid down. It's Monday through Saturday surrender that culminates in Sunday praise. It's trusting God enough to release what we're gripping so tightly.

Your Next Step

What are you withholding from God today? What's the one thing you keep shoving under the bed, hoping He won't notice? A habit? A relationship? An unforgiveness? A dream you refuse to surrender?

No amount of church attendance, financial giving, or volunteer hours can substitute for a surrendered heart. God isn't asking for your perfect performance. He's asking for your complete trust.

Place your pineapple on the altar today. Give God the thing you've been holding back. Let Him work in the areas you've kept closed off. Experience the freedom that comes from total surrender.

Prayer: Father, we confess we've been holding back. We've edited our obedience, kept our pineapples, and called it worship. Today, we surrender everything—the hidden things, the cherished things, the fearful things. Take our whole hearts. We want You more than we want control. Transform us into living sacrifices who trust You completely. In Jesus' name, Amen.