For what ever reason it turns out to be, the Lord has been putting this on the forefront of my mind lately. That's why I thought I'd put it out there to find out what other believers think to get more perspective.
First off it never really tells us in detail what this is exactly, but I feel, and others may agree, that our first love is that love for the God who just saved and changed us so fully. That excitement when He gives us that assurance that He is real and we are filled with His Spirit and on fire to let everyone else know. The high we're on that first couple weeks when all of our worldly priorities are flipped upside down and rearranged in ourselves, and we have very little idea of exactly how they are happening at first. I just had very little interest in some things I had loved most my life, and overnight. Video Games and porn for example.
I feel it is that zeal and the fire inside that can be called our first love. The humility to know the creator of everything just took time to save you, and knowing there is nothing we can offer Him other than our grateful love and worship, which just seem so insignificant in comparison to what we got. (for me personally of course)
I think we have an opportunity to show this first love anytime we are around other believers, by being loving, patient, and understanding towards them and trying to represent what Christ called us to be like, and be His representative on earth to the best of our flawed abilities. (flawed abilities made better by Him through the Holy Spirit)
So when He is addressing the church at Ephesus He commended them for their knowledge of scripture, being discerning by testing those who claimed the name of Christ, for their persistent works without becoming weary, and their hate for the deeds of the Nicolaitans. His only rebuke was that they lost their fist love, then goes on to say if the do not repent He will come quickly to remove their lampstand. To me that is a pretty horrible consequence, and this is the only Church He threatens to do this to. To me it seemed that this church was really focused on the "rules of the Church", and the "works" they did, but had started to lose sight of what was truly important, that love. The love for God, and the love towards our fellow believers who when we love is just like loving Him. He dwells in each of us, so when we love each other it's like we are directly loving Him, so when that love starts to be replaces by the works of our own hands, God really doesn't like it.
Just simply from some of the conversations I see here, do you think we may do the same things ourselves sometimes? We get into such passionate debates sometimes about who's right or wrong, but at the end of the day are we not brothers in Christ. You may believe the pre-trib while I believe the post, or thing the modern tongues is a sign whole I don't, but should we let these differences cause animosity between us if we are both regenerated by Christ? Now please don't take this as some kind of universalist view, Jesus is the ONLY way, but I do feel that a lot of times we put our love for each other aside for the smallest of disagreements. I've seen to people with the same exact view, only each worded it their own way, yet they argue back and forth over 6 pages and never agree, or realize they've agreed the whole time it's just worded differently. Honestly I personally feel a lot of love for each other on CC, yet can understand how one could see it the exact opposite. As Christians we should come together more than we do, myself defiantly included in that, and even though my salvation is fairly young (13 months) I just want to make sure I hold on to that first love as hard as I can, and through His strength I know it's possible.
I guess it would be appropriate to end like this. I love each and every one of you that knows our King and Savior Jesus Christ (and I also love the ones that His Spirit hasn't come into yet), and may He pour His peace and understanding out on us all. All glory to Him alone.
First off it never really tells us in detail what this is exactly, but I feel, and others may agree, that our first love is that love for the God who just saved and changed us so fully. That excitement when He gives us that assurance that He is real and we are filled with His Spirit and on fire to let everyone else know. The high we're on that first couple weeks when all of our worldly priorities are flipped upside down and rearranged in ourselves, and we have very little idea of exactly how they are happening at first. I just had very little interest in some things I had loved most my life, and overnight. Video Games and porn for example.
I feel it is that zeal and the fire inside that can be called our first love. The humility to know the creator of everything just took time to save you, and knowing there is nothing we can offer Him other than our grateful love and worship, which just seem so insignificant in comparison to what we got. (for me personally of course)
I think we have an opportunity to show this first love anytime we are around other believers, by being loving, patient, and understanding towards them and trying to represent what Christ called us to be like, and be His representative on earth to the best of our flawed abilities. (flawed abilities made better by Him through the Holy Spirit)
So when He is addressing the church at Ephesus He commended them for their knowledge of scripture, being discerning by testing those who claimed the name of Christ, for their persistent works without becoming weary, and their hate for the deeds of the Nicolaitans. His only rebuke was that they lost their fist love, then goes on to say if the do not repent He will come quickly to remove their lampstand. To me that is a pretty horrible consequence, and this is the only Church He threatens to do this to. To me it seemed that this church was really focused on the "rules of the Church", and the "works" they did, but had started to lose sight of what was truly important, that love. The love for God, and the love towards our fellow believers who when we love is just like loving Him. He dwells in each of us, so when we love each other it's like we are directly loving Him, so when that love starts to be replaces by the works of our own hands, God really doesn't like it.
Just simply from some of the conversations I see here, do you think we may do the same things ourselves sometimes? We get into such passionate debates sometimes about who's right or wrong, but at the end of the day are we not brothers in Christ. You may believe the pre-trib while I believe the post, or thing the modern tongues is a sign whole I don't, but should we let these differences cause animosity between us if we are both regenerated by Christ? Now please don't take this as some kind of universalist view, Jesus is the ONLY way, but I do feel that a lot of times we put our love for each other aside for the smallest of disagreements. I've seen to people with the same exact view, only each worded it their own way, yet they argue back and forth over 6 pages and never agree, or realize they've agreed the whole time it's just worded differently. Honestly I personally feel a lot of love for each other on CC, yet can understand how one could see it the exact opposite. As Christians we should come together more than we do, myself defiantly included in that, and even though my salvation is fairly young (13 months) I just want to make sure I hold on to that first love as hard as I can, and through His strength I know it's possible.
I guess it would be appropriate to end like this. I love each and every one of you that knows our King and Savior Jesus Christ (and I also love the ones that His Spirit hasn't come into yet), and may He pour His peace and understanding out on us all. All glory to Him alone.
