Am I Loving God First?
Thanks for joining the Need-Hope.com podcast. In this episode, we will examine whether we are truly loving God first. Don't be deceived like me. I thought God was my 1st love but was He? You can listen to this podcast episode by clicking: Am I Loving God First?
Welcome My Friend to the Need-Hope.com podcast where we look to Jesus and look to God’s Word for guaranteed Hope.
I’m Chris Gray. And I’m so glad you’re here.
In a moment, we will examine whether we are truly loving God first. Don’t be deceived like me. I thought God was my 1st love, but was He? Stay tuned.
Intro Music
Heavenly Father, speak to our hearts as we listen to what You say to the Ephesus Church and to us in Revelation 2. Please Holy Spirit work through us to be passionately devoted in our love for the Lord above all else. We ask this in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
“I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:2-5
In this passage, we hear how the Ephesus church was committed to knowing God’s Word, exposing lies, and serving God. Yet, they were not passionately devoted in their love for the Lord. This passage is very convicting…I can relate to being focused on knowing the truth and serving God. I was deceived into thinking the “doing” aspect of ministry would prove that the Lord is my 1st love. Don’t be deceived like me or the Ephesus Church. If we don’t prioritize spending unhurried devotion time with the Lord … in building our relationship with Him as our 1st love, we can easily be deceived. Don’t get me wrong, I spent time with the Lord in prayer and His Word but it wasn’t too deep. And in most cases, I felt distracted. I had an unnecessary sense of urgency in hurrying on to the next activity. How sad to hurry relationship building time with the Lord who is to be my 1st love.
Friend, does this describe your life? Have you been rushing through, having a hurry up and get it done kind of devotion time with God? If so, you may ask, How can I rekindle Christ as my first love? The answer is Repent. Confess this sin to God. He will forgive you and restore you. The Holy Spirit can fan the flame of the Lord being your 1st love. Then what? Then prioritize daily relationship-building time with the Lord by devoting yourself and each day to Him. Enjoy spending this devotion time in worshipping and thanking the Lord, confessing your sin and celebrating the gospel, talking to God about everything on your heart as you seek His will and then listening to God as He speaks through His Word and the Holy Spirit. The Lord will mold you into the person He wants you to be. Then God will be glorified as He enables you to be a humble, loving, gracious, merciful servant. In prioritizing unhurried devotion time with the Lord, I can testify that God is nurturing my love for Him, molding and directing me. What do you say..let’s heed God’s warning to the Ephesus Church. Will you commit with me to daily prioritize unhurried devotion time with the Lord as your 1st love? Keep in mind, the devil will throw all kinds of distractions to tempt you to do anything but spend time with the Lord. But stand firm in the faith and your commitment to the Lord. And if you happen to not prioritize devotion time with the Lord, remember you can repent, confess your sin to God and He will forgive and restore you. Renew your commitment to the Lord for the next day. Don’t give up, the Lord will supply the grace you need to deny those distractions and grow in loving God 1st as you prayerfully depend on Him.
A most excellent biblical resource to disciple us with this devotion time is Richard Burr’s book “Developing Your Secret Closet of Prayer.”
Now there may be someone listening who may not even know where to start in having a relationship with God. Dear Friend, God sees you. God knows you. God offers you a way to have a loving relationship with Him. But there is a problem that first must be dealt with. We are all born with a self-focused life that ignores God as our King. Therefore, we all deserve God’s wrath in hell after we die. But God has shown His own love toward us in that while we were His enemies Jesus Christ died a horrific death to take God’s wrath on our behalf. Then He rose from the grave. Those who turn away from their rebellious self-ruled life and put their faith in Jesus are given a new life in a relationship with God now and forever in heaven. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Will you open the door? Will you commit your life to Jesus today as your personal Lord and Savior? Don’t wait. If you want more information on how to have a relationship with Jesus, watch the 6-minute video at Need-Hope.com under “Hope Starts Here”.
Thanks for joining me. Until next time, Look to Jesus and look to God’s Word for guaranteed hope.
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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. www.Lockman.org