When we “fall in love” “That person will be the first thing we think of when we wake up, and the last thing, when we fall asleep. We will constantly think about them throughout the day. When they smile our heart skips a beat. Our eyes are glued to them once we see them, and somehow we can’t take our eyes off of them…” That’s just what I experienced at 29 years of age, when I got saved, “God showed how much He loved me by SENDING HIS ONE AND ONLY SON into the world so that I might have ETERNAL LIFE through Him. This is REAL LOVE—not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE to take away our (my) sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)
I just happened to read these verses in the book of revelation, after serving the Lord now for almost 50 years. “Nevertheless I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU, that you have LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS, or else I will come to you quickly and REMOVE your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Rev. 2:4-5)
AFTER PRAYER, I DECIDED I WOULD DO THE FOLLOWING, I WILL:
- REMEMBER GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid…for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” (Deut. 31:6)
- CONFESS MY SIN: “When I kept silent about my sin, MY BODY BECAME WEAK because I groaned all day long. Finally, I CONFESSED ALL MY SINS to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And YOU FORGAVE ME! ALL MY GUILT IS GONE.” (Psa. 32:3, 5)
- PRAY WITHOUT CEASING: “Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, And into His courts with PRAISE. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psa. 100:4) “Rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, in everything give thanks; for this is THE WILL OF GOD in Christ Jesus FOR YOU.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
- COMMIT TO CONSISTENT BIBLE READING: For many Christians, reading the Bible consistently is a challenge. Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matt. 4:4) We read it because, “…the word of God is LIVING and POWERFUL, and SHARPER than any two-edged sword, PIERCING even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a DISCERNER of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) God instructed Moses to REPEAT this command, “…you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and your strength. And you must COMMIT YOURSELVES WHOLEHEARTEDLY to these commands that I AM GIVING YOU Repeat them AGAIN AND AGAIN TO YOUR CHILDREN. TALK ABOUT THEM when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up…WRITE THEM on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:5-9)
-Bill Stockham