I will never forget that snowy, wintery night in 1971 when I met Jesus, who became my First Love. I was overcome by His love, His forgiveness, and the knowledge that He loved me before I loved Him (1John 4:19). I rejoiced in my “new life” and voiced my gratitude for His willingness to suffer an undeserved death, so that I could receive His gift of salvation (John 3:16).
In 1972, I began praying for a Christian husband. God spoke into my heart that He would send him soon. I have since learned that God’s timing is not our timing, and one day is like a thousand years to God (2 Peter 3:8). Two years passed, then three more years, and not seeing an answer to my prayer, I became angry with God.
In 1977, I was introduced to a charming man, who was far from being a Christian and everything I should have run from. Unfortunately, as we started dating, I began to embrace worldly values. As this man became my priority, Jesus was no longer first in my life, though I continued attending church.
Several months into the relationship, God, in His loving mercy, began to convict my heart of the dangerous road I had taken. I repented of my backslidden state and severed the relationship that I knew in my heart was not of God. Shortly after, God sent a godly man, who became my husband.
I learned a difficult lesson. Had I trusted God and sought Him first and His righteousness, instead of surrendering to my soulish desires, I would have not suffered the deep regret and pain that I experienced in walking in rebellion. God had proven to be faithful in His promise to me, but I had not been faithful in my promise to love Him first.
Jesus told John to write a message to the Ephesians in the church of Ephesus and let them know that although He praised them for their hard work, endurance, and refusal to accept evil, they had abandoned the love they first had for Him. They were told to remember where they had fallen, repent, and do the works they did at first” (Revelation 2:2-3).
The Ephesians once had a first love for Jesus which was characterized by their passion and appreciation for their salvation. They tested teachers to see whether they were real followers of Christ. They persevered when many around them worshiped the goddess of Artemis. But then, the Ephesians focus turned to doctrine and hard work, to the exclusion of a true love for Christ.
The Old and New Testament of the Greek Lexicon defines “first love” as “first in time or place, first rank.” When Jesus said to the Ephesians that they had lost their first love, He was saying that He no longer held first place in their hearts.
I have learned over the years, that what we place first is what we love the most. Of course, many a professing Christian would never admit or even realize that God is not first in their life. Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
If we were to examine our hearts, what would we consider to be most important in our lives? Would it be a spouse, a child, grandchildren, a job, success, entertainment, health, our own life, money, security, etc. A parent would give their life to save the life of their child, but what if they were told they could only save their life and maybe the child’s life, if they renounced Christ? Would they put the Lord above their own life? Jesus said, He who denies me before men, I will also deny knowing them before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).
We can learn a lesson from the early church and ask ourselves if we are going through religious maneuvers, believing we have God’s approval and a place in heaven. Or, do our hearts burn within us to love the Lord above all things. Would Jesus say of us, “Their hearts are far from me?”
Had Christ not sacrificed everything for us, our fate would be hell with an eternity of torments. In these difficult and challenging days, God is calling Christians to re-examine their hearts to see if He is truly their first priority.
How do we make the Lord our first priority? Each day we seek Him by setting time aside for prayer, the Word, worship, thanksgiving, and daily repentance for wrong thoughts, words, and actions. This requires dedication and discipline, because our soulish, carnal flesh will resist.
The Lord wants to hold first place in our hearts, thoughts, and plans. Are we dedicated to our own agenda or are we disciplined to make Him our first priority—our First Love?
PRAYER: Lord, forgive me if I have failed in making You my first priority. Help me discipline myself to spend time with You in Your Word, in prayer, worship, repentance, praise, and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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