|
Rediscovering Your First Love Tom Barnard
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. (Revelation 2:4-5 NLT)
A Christian counselor was working with a man whose marriage was in trouble. The man showed the counselor a note that his fiancée had written to him years earlier—prior to their marriage. In the note she complimented her husband-to-be as being “on fire” spiritually and an “exciting Christian man.” It was obvious to the counselor that these qualities were missing in the man seated across from him. So he asked, “What happened to the man she was so in love with?” The man answered that as a new Christian he became deeply engaged in church activities and other things. He said, “I was busy in church business all the time.” Again, the counselor asked, “What happened to the man your wife was madly in love with?”
The man’s reply was sad. He said, “I guess somewhere along the way I traded in ‘Christianity’ for ‘Churchianity.’” He had lost his love for God and his wife, and—sadly—he wasn’t interested in exploring how to get either of them back.
God has a solution. It is simple—turn back to the Lord again. God wrote the book on “turning back.” His invitation is for everyone. I asked my counselor friend to voice a prayer for this week’s devotional. Read it with me.
“Heavenly Father, I remember how it all started. It began when I opened my heart to Jesus. I’m thankful for the people that invited me to attend a revival service. I’m thankful they pointed me to Jesus and later encouraged me to attend a Christian college. I’m thankful that the college kept me focused on Jesus as well. I’m thankful that in the years since then I have not forsaken my first love, and that God has led me to love others as well. Amen.”
O happy day that fixed my choice on Thee, my Savior and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad. Happy day, happy day—When Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day. Happy day, happy day—When Jesus washed my sins away!
It’s always a happy day when we celebrate the rediscovery of our first love! |