First Love
Like toes in the water on the first day of spring or
the satisfying swallow of fresh made ice cream, this is how beginnings feel.
Have you followed Christ for long?
When you learned of His love and grace did His
glory thrill your heart?
Even being blessed with the experience of serving such
a powerful and merciful God, after a while, we can become apathetic. That
leaning forward at a full tilt run can become the dragging feet of a slumped
shouldered march. In Revelations 2, God talks to the church in Ephesus.
These are the words of him who holds the seven
stars in his right hand and I know your deeds, your hard work and your
perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have
tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You
have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown
weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
You notice God didn’t say they weren’t working hard
enough? He didn’t tell them that they weren’t faithful, or that they allowed wickedness
to flourish around them? No, He told them to get back to that passion and fire
that once filled their hearts. Maybe this doesn’t mean to do more, but do less. Reconnect with your God by being with Him in a conscious way.
Not warming a pew, not repeating words to Him, not memorizing random strings of
words that have no meaning for you. We
have the privilege of being more than going through robotic motions.
It also doesn’t mean being involved with every
event, Bible study, and potluck dinner that the church offers. It means to
follow, listen, and love God with a wide awake, fired-up heart and soul.
Renew, refresh, and jump back into your first
love!
