First Love

One of the biggest "mix-ups" that we humans can make in our personal walk with the Lord is to think that we are the originator of love. I know I spent years upon years in my relationship with God, putting one focused step in front of the other saying to myself, "I love God, I love God, I love God."

How revolutionizing it was for my heart to finally receive what my head had been told in His word even as a child. Listen to this verse found in I John 4:10:

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

It's as if God is saying, "Don't get it backwards; I loved you... first."

For example, which comes first, grass growing from the earth, or rain falling from the heavens? Or better yet, which is the love-initiator in this relationship, a devoted mother reaching for her newborn baby or the small infant gasping for air? These answers seem obvious, simple. Likewise, God is desperate for each one of us to simply understand His deep affection...

Because... when we finally do "get" this fundamental concept, we then can't stop speaking, singing, writing, dancing, living out this uncontainable love. It pours from our innermost being, and it is better than life itself! Our once focused steps are now freeing steps, accompanied with, "HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME!", which then changes to the second verse, "HE LOVES YOU, HE LOVES YOU, HE LOVES YOU!" Yes, when we are His to the core, we are overcome with the driving desire to chase the world down with the initiating love of Jesus Christ.

So my friend, I encourage you to rest in this life-altering truth...He first loved us. (I John 4:19). And then, run to the world.