My First Love

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Revelation 2:4

Do you remember the first time you fell in love with God? Perhaps it was as a young child at church camp or Sunday School. Maybe a crisis put you on your knees in humble surrender and you felt his gentle love and comfort. Perhaps you were an adult when you felt the love and grace He offers you through forgiveness. But whenever it was, however it was, the joy and freedom that came from knowing his love was beautiful, and it compelled you to act. Your response was natural, unprompted, and easy. 

Do you still rest in that love today? Do you still long for his depth of love? God doesn't need anything from us. He simply wants the love that he has for us to be reciprocated, not in acts, but in our heart. The way we responded to him when His love was new to us is the only thing he wants from us.... no acts, just love!

That exact same love that over time will ebb and flow if we do not keep in contact with the lover of our soul. Every day He has new and amazing things to teach us. He has love to lavish on us in his word and by simply being in his presence. It's when we wander from him to our fulfill our fleshly desires and the ways of the world around us, we also wander out of his love and forget the love he has for us. We must go to him daily seeking the joy of his presence, inviting him to take up residence in yet another area of our lives, allowing the lavish love he has to permeate our being. 

Have you forsaken your first love for lesser loves that that world offers?

Lord,

 There is joy and delight in new love. I ask that you search me and renew my love for you by taking out all the distractions that keep me from the fullness of your love.

I love you and want to continue to grow in intimacy with you. Lord, take me deeper in your love. Amen