First Love
“I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love.” Rev. 2:4
This is a familiar verse and a common sermon to hear about how this church was rebuked because in leaving their first love they have become more distant from their Saviour and are called to repentance and restoration.
I though am wondering about the other side of that coin…not in a “contradict the Bible” sort of way, but thinking about the actual words.
I too have left my first love…
My first love was passionate and excited, pure and naïve.
I do not love like I did when I first began in the hearts and flowers type of euphoria.
I’ve left the warm fuzzy love to another kind: one that has had questions and doubts and struggles.
I do not love like I first loved.
The love that I have now for my God is one of experience and maturity, not as a flare but now as a gas fed torch. For I have seen for myself that while God is great, He is also good. And that He is good, if I understand what is happening or am totally clueless. When I’ve called, he has heard, and answered, and in doing so has assured me even more of his dependability and faithfulness. I’ve actually seen things that seemed to be nothing but disjointed fragments “work together for good” in my life.
My love is old now.
Yet it is stronger and wider than my first love.
And I hope to keep journeying away from my first love and even from the love I have now, so that in a week or a year, my love for Him will be deeper still.
“We love him because He first loved us.” I John 4:19
This is a familiar verse and a common sermon to hear about how this church was rebuked because in leaving their first love they have become more distant from their Saviour and are called to repentance and restoration.
I though am wondering about the other side of that coin…not in a “contradict the Bible” sort of way, but thinking about the actual words.
I too have left my first love…
My first love was passionate and excited, pure and naïve.
I do not love like I did when I first began in the hearts and flowers type of euphoria.
I’ve left the warm fuzzy love to another kind: one that has had questions and doubts and struggles.
I do not love like I first loved.
The love that I have now for my God is one of experience and maturity, not as a flare but now as a gas fed torch. For I have seen for myself that while God is great, He is also good. And that He is good, if I understand what is happening or am totally clueless. When I’ve called, he has heard, and answered, and in doing so has assured me even more of his dependability and faithfulness. I’ve actually seen things that seemed to be nothing but disjointed fragments “work together for good” in my life.
My love is old now.
Yet it is stronger and wider than my first love.
And I hope to keep journeying away from my first love and even from the love I have now, so that in a week or a year, my love for Him will be deeper still.
“We love him because He first loved us.” I John 4:19
Comments
Great post, Beck!