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Day 3 – First Love
Scripture:
Colossians 3:10-14 (NLT)
10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,c]”>[c] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,d]”>[d] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
When you made the decision (I hope you’ve made the decision), to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, you entered into a relationship with Him FIRST.
You may have heard the message about Christ through someone, and consequently belong to a church in order to receive your spiritual nourishment to grow into a matured believer. However, it’s important to have a healthy view of the different entities involved in your salvation.
God often uses people for the benefit of your faith, just as He’ll use you for the benefit of the faith of others. God is perfect, people are not. So when people make mistakes or disappoint you, it shouldn’t affect your relationship with God detrimentally. Similarly, when people do right by you, it doesn’t warrant you to worship them.
Making this distinction will save you from unnecessary turmoil.
In my journey, I’ve experienced 2 church-splits. The first one was the most difficult. It hurt! Thankfully, at that point I knew to trust God in the midst of my confusion – that He would make it good, eventually.
If my hope had been in my church and/or pastor, that would have probably marked the end of my relationship with Christ.
Now, don’t get me wrong, give honour where honour is due. Appreciate and show gratitude to people that contribute to your journey with God. They are a gift to you from God, so cherish that gift, but also make allowance for them to make mistakes. Show grace to them just like how you must receive grace for yourself.
In this way, you will be able to forgive yourself and others when needed, and see how God can love you and those that may hurt you in future. But also, don’t go around looking for something bad. Trust God and live in the freedom you have acquired in Christ Jesus!
Remember, a beautiful journey does NOT mean a perfect one.
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)
Practical tips:
- Pray for your spiritual leaders (ask God to help them) and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1)
- Ask God for wisdom and understanding on how to apply what you’ve learnt in a manner that will give God glory
- Ask yourself, before committing to anything, why you are doing what you’ve set out to do: is it a love offering?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the relationship I have with You because of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who died for me. Please help me to remember on this journey to put Him first, my first love.
Please also help me in how I relate with those in my life so that may they never replace my first love, but please help me to always be gracious to them and thankful for their contribution in my walk with You.
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
