First Love

First love is the abandonment of all for a love that has abandoned all. Our first love is the love Jesus gives us for God and each other.

Revelation 2:4 You have abandoned the love you had at first.

First Love = Joy of salvation
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and let a willing attitude control me.

1 John 4:19 We love because God first loved us.

The Mary/Martha Syndrome

Luke 10:38-42 Now, as they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and kept listening to what He was saying. But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to Him and asked, “Lord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, don’t you? Then tell her to help me.”
The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. But there’s only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her.”

Mary had chosen to give herself up to the guidance of Jesus. The things of this life will be taken away from us, at the furthest, when we shall be taken away from them; but nothing shall separate us from the love of Jesus Christ, and a part in that love. Men and devils cannot take it away from us, and God certainly will not. We should keep in mind the one thing that needs more diligence.

Devotion rather than Doctrine.

Revelation 2:5 Remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you don’t, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place – unless you repent.

vs.7 To everyone who conquers, I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in God’s paradise.

The Love You Had at First