RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE

One of the Major Reasons why Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to pray for the Christian saints in Philippi was concerning the issue of rediscovering and rekindling their Love for Him: "And this I pray, that your Love may abound still more and more..." (Phil. 1:9). The Lord Jesus Himself issued a stern warning to us that in the Last Days, prophesying that the Love of many would wax cold (Matt. 24:12). Apostle Paul also issued a warning to his Spiritual son and protégé Timothy, proclaiming that in the Last Days the Love of men would shift from God to themselves and pleasures of the flesh (2 Tim. 3:2, 4).

As Genuine Christian believers, the Lord God Almighty Himself is our Undisputed First Love. The First and Greatest Commandment, as declared by the Lord Jesus Himself, is to love Him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds and with all our strength (Mk. 12:30). It is only natural to expect several things to contend with our Love for God. Once we come to Christ, He ignites a Passion and Zeal in our hearts which is expected to only grow and not wane, but whenever we don't engage that Passion and Love in the way we serve Him, the cares of this life could so easily displace the Burning Love in our hearts. This then sadly results in Spiritual apathy and coldness towards God.

There are certain Primary Ways we can maintain a Burning Love for God:

(1.) THROUGH PRAYER: God Himself is the Embodiment of Love. We draw nearer to Him whenever we pray, with His Nature of Love rubbing off more and more on us. His Stirred up Presence in the Place of Prayer keeps that Love in our hearts constantly burning.

(2.) WORSHIP: This speaks about any feeling or expression of Reverence channelled towards a specific Deity. Whenever we express Adoration to God, be it through Prayer or songs, His Love is always rekindled in our hearts.

(3.) THROUGH THE WORD: The Word of God is Living and Powerful, (Heb. 4:12) therefore, to know God's Word is to know His Love.

(4.) THROUGH OBEDIENCE: This is the Greatest Expression of our Love towards God Himself (Jn. 14:15). As we continue obeying Him, His Love continues growing to match in us.

(5.) THROUGH MINISTRY: Once we love God, we must be genuinely concerned about His Divine Mandate on Earth: To reconcile the world to Him. Engaging in His Work helps us keep His Love burning in us.

We must always remember that the Love with which we love God originates from Him. Whenever we attempt to fall out of Love with Him, we need to ask Him for the Grace to reconnect us back into His Love because it is Him who sheds His Love abroad in our hearts (Rom. 5:5) and we love Him because He first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19).