Remembering our first love

As we approach spring and the season that CELEBRATES the resurrection of CHRIST would you pause with me LISTEN? 

Cease striving. 

“Be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)  That can be a difficult task in our busy busy hurry hurry “doing” culture. But it is a vital discipline that brings life and peace. 

This week we have both Valentine’s day and Ash Wednesday, the day many Christians will begin their 40 days of lent. Lent (for those Christians who don’t typically observe it) is a 40 day period in which Christians prepare their hearts for the celebration of Easter.  Ash Wednesday is a solemn day of remembering and repenting of our sins as we recall what Jesus went through as He carried our sins on the cross.  During lent and always may we decrease so that Christ would increase in us. (John 3:30) The 40 days of fasting (fasting from the world to feast on His Word!) is a reminder of Jesus when he was fasting and tempted in the wilderness for 40 days (Luke 4). The journey through Lent ultimately leads to the victorious celebration of our Savior who overcame sin and conquered death providing hope and eternal life for all those who receive Him. The greatest gift of all time! (John 1:12, John 3:16).  This is a week to remember and if needed, to re-commit to our first love. 

Examine & Commit 

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.  Revelation 2:4-5

Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:26

 REPENT  

intransitive verb

1  to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life

2  a : to feel regret or contrition 

    b : to change one's mind

What unconfessed sin are you holding on to?  Who are you having a hard time forgiving?  How can you decrease?  What commitments or resolves do you need to make?

Spend time with your “first Love” this week and then “go” and show His Love to a broken world.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.             1 John 4:10-12