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THE FIRST LOVE WE LEFT, THAT NEVER LEFT US.

by ROBIN BOSCH  
2/06/2017 / Devotionals


My first love for Jesus 1 happened when the light switched on in my soul. It was a moment of enlightenment and revelation, but above all a feeling that a huge burden had been removed from my shoulders.2 After groping around like a blind person for years, not knowing the meaning of life 2b or the reason for my existence on this earth, I was led to the truth. The truth set me free; 3 I was liberated and it felt awesome.

Those first months or years were delightful, filled with peace in the knowledge that Jesus had done it all – my sins had been forgiven 4- Wow!

It was a time of relief, gratitude and joy.5 I had found the meaning of life. Nothing was too hard to do; a time of zeal and enthusiasm.

This same emotion was expressed by an Italian International footballer describing the feeling of winning the football World Cup. He said and I quote," I felt light, as if I was flying"
That's how I felt when I understood that Jesus had taken all my burdens. My outlook on life was euphoric, the trees noticeably taller, the grass greener, the flowers more beautiful.

Metaphorically speaking that's how it was. But sadly overtime I lost my first love, forgetting the simplicity of the Gospel.6 When I came to Jesus originally it was a simple uncomplicated faith.7

I walked in a bubble and that bubble 8 was the unconditional embrace of a loving Savior who saved me by Grace.9 At that time, was it hard to tell others about such a good God? Was it hard to lift up my hands in adoration and praise to Him alone who is worthy? Was it difficult to go the extra mile with Lord? The answer a definite, No!

The Lord tells us that in order to get back our first love we should do the first works.10 What did He mean by first works? It is the finished work that Jesus did on the Cross.11 He did the original works; all we have to do is believe, walk by His Grace through faith 12 and trust in all that His Cross stands for (encapsulates). His first work, works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure.13

To get back on track and get our first love back is simply reverting to the original simple acceptance of the Good News which is the Gospel of His Grace.14 So the question can be asked, “Where did we go astray?”

I believe it was when we start 'doing' to please rather being pleased to do, because Jesus has done.

It is also lending an ear to people who say we should not remain in spiritual Primary School but should move on to spiritual University. In other words they put pressure on us to grow, rather than having Christ grow in us as we abide in Him, 15 which is categorically and supremely a work of the Holy Spirit.

These people mean well and I see where they come from, but it places the load and burden squarely on our spiritual performance. This advice denigrates the Gospel message. The “first fruit” of the “first work” is regarded as something inferior. This message of Grace = Jesus + something else, is incorrect. The correct equation is Grace = Jesus plus nothing = everything.16

When we listen to the wrong message we slowly but surely drift from Grace to works. When Jesus is no longer magnified above all else, we lose the joy of our first love by trying to achieve in the flesh which can only be attained by the Spirit.

It is imperative and pivotal to understand that our first love is Jesus. Grace is a person and that Person is Jesus.

When we start doing good works from a religious zeal which is not Christ centered and Grace energized 17 our focus becomes blurred. We become spiritually disorientated and start wondering around in the wilderness, going around the same old mountain; 18 our spiritual compass spinning in all directions.

The fact of the matter is, our first love returns automatically when we rest in His achievement not ours. We start delighting in the Grace which He abundantly lavishes on us daily.

The relief of this truth redirects our thought process onto Christ’s work, which alleviates the anxiety of performing.
What is the correct order of things? The answer is simply: “He loves us therefore we love Him - not the other way around.”19

Any other emphasis muddies the water, causing confusion and spiritual disorientation. When our work replaces Jesus’s work, we lose out on the full joy of salvation.20 We become lone rangers, so to speak, instead of joint rangers 21 with Christ who lives in us. We isolate ourselves from the source of life which is Christ.22

In the process, our cross becomes bigger than Christ’s Cross. Sure, it is true we are to take up our cross daily and follow Him 23 but the reality is, our cross is ultimately His Cross. When we see our cross as a burden we misunderstand the power of His Cross.24 We are indeed Cross bearers but only in terms of identifying with His sufferings.25

For example if we make a stand for Christ and are rebuffed or rejected or persecuted for His Name, we in fact identify and have fellowship with His Cross.26 When we misunderstand this, we lose hope and indeed our first love. Why does this happen? It is because we rely in our ability to overcome, rather than Christ’s ability that has already overcome.

Everything becomes far too heavy when we forget the words of Jesus who said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. (Matt 11:29,30)

Note! We are to take up His burden, which is light. Our first joy will begin to bubble from our innermost being once again when we realize that Jesus did not mean us to die on a Cross - He’s already done that. No! We are to walk in the shadow of His Cross so that our cross is light, easy and bearable. Our cross dims significantly when His Cross looms larger than what we suffer in this world.

I remember there was a song called, “He was there all the time.” The Chorus is as follows:
“He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time.”

That’s how it is. Jesus has never left the building. He was there all the time. When we come to our senses and turn back to the simple message of His Grace, we become filled with gratitude once again. His love overwhelms us and we become productive, with one difference: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”(Zec 4:6b)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
1) Rev 2:4
2) 2 Cor. 3:17; Ga.5:1
2b) Ac.17:28
3) Jn.8:32
4) Eph.1:7;Col.1:14; Act.13:38
5) 1Pe.1:8
6) 1Cor.1:17
7) Ga.3:2; Ga3:9.
8) Ps.91:1.
9) Ep.2:8
10) Rev.2:5
11) Jn.19:30;He.4:3
12) Eph.2:8
13) Phil.2:13
14) Acts.20:24; Ga.1:6
15) Eph.4:15; 1Jn.2:27
16) 1Cor.2:2; Ga.6:14.
17) Ga.4:16-21.
18) He.3:16-19; 2Tim.2:15.
19) 1Jn.4:19.
20) Ps.51:12.
21) Ga.2:20.
22) Col.3:4.
23) Lu.9:23.
24) 1Cor.1:18
25) Ph.3:10.
26) Matt.5:10.

I have been a believer in Christ for many years. It has only been in the last three or four years that I have received greater insight into the Grace of God. This has injected me with energy to tell others about the blessed "rest" we have in Christ. Grace is not a theology but is a Person-- Jesus.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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