Morning Journal
Deuteronomy 32:7
“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of all generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell you.”
This is a verse from Moses’ song. Unfortunately it’s stern. He is singing about how the people will be unfaithful to the Lord. The above verse refers to how they can return to the Lord. It’s the same for us. If we’ve become distant from Him or possibly strayed. He tells them to remember the times we were closer. There is a similar command in Revelation 2:4,5a. Jesus is speaking to the churches. He says to Ephesus, ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first. The common part of these is to remember the first works. Jesus says that He wants to be our “first love”. That’s unexpected. It doesn’t sound like a religious relationship; more like a sweetheart. Yet He wants to be preeminent.
What does it mean to love God? Jesus says in John 14:5, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” This also surprises me. He equates love with obedience. I wouldn’t have expected that. However, I like it. If feels more measurable. It’s difficult to take the temperature of my heart. Yet, I know if I’ve been obedient.
In other passages, we’re told to love Him with all our hearts, I tend to feel guilty because of some of the things I enjoy doing. They aren’t sinful, just other interests. I didn’t know I could love Him with all my heart and do them. Yet, He has given us this world to enjoy. So, I shouldn’t feel guilty, but to invite Him in with me. Let Him be part of my hobbies.
When it comes to the other areas of our lives, we should be obedient within them. Just as with all areas of life, He will help us regulate how much time we invest. We pay attention to circumstances an heart nudges. Ask Him as these arise. We let Him be lord of everything. We love Him by doing what He says.
As we look back on our lives, do we remember times when we were closer to Him? If so, the above passages tell us to remember those works and repeat them. Thus, returning to our first love.
Lord, thank You that You want to be involved in our lives. Help us to stay close. I pray to be closer to You now than ever.