DEVOTIONAL: first love
Running to our first love. What a sweet, powerful and beautiful relationship we have as believers, to know, to be known by and to love God.
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When we allow Him into our hearts we can truly receive His love (when we are vulnerable with what is hurting, being honest... coming to Him to heal.) we must be desperate for Him, if one is not desperate there is most likely pride. We must acknowledge our neediness. We have needs that can only be met by God (love, significance and security) When we allow Him to meet those needs we can love one another. If you haven’t received something you can’t give it away.
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“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8 ESV
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God is love. The areas you have invited the Lord in He can heal and be seen in. This is a beautiful picture... as the physical light hits an object that object can now be seen reflecting its true shape, color and significance.
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When we are vulnerable before the Lord we can then experience His deep love. Often times we can disregard are emotions and move on. No He our loving Father wants to meet us right in it. He wants to heal, restore and set free.
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“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19 ESV
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Without God we don’t have the ability to love. When we allow ourselves (real authentic selves) to be loved then we are transformed. When we are transformed by God we are filled and therefore we can love one another. This love is not contingent on those around us. We are filled, overflowing with the power of God because we have allowed Him in.
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To receive love is the biggest blessing. The manifestation of this happening is:
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“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV
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“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV
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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
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Questions: How are you reflecting His love? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Do you run to the Lord every day to get your needs met? (Love, significance, security)
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