Rightly Relating

I can remember many times in church the phrase from Revelation 2:4 used both as a comfort and warning. Returning to your first love means repenting or turning 180 degrees in a different direction.

The original meaning for repent in Revelations 2:5 means think differently afterwards.

Returning to our first love is to a Person not to some euphoric state like when we first gave our hearts to Christ. Remember how wonderful and joyful the experience when Christ filled our hearts with His love and peace? Our eyes were open to the truth of His mercy. We experienced His lavished grace forgiving our sins and setting us free. He brought hope and comfort in our broken and hopelessly condition.

Sadly, some Christians are locked in looking back at such a moment with great longing as if they missed God altogether. But He desires us to relate rightly to Him no matter how we view our Christian experience. In other words, God wants us to mature, deepen our love for Him independent of how good or poor our natural or present condition.

Think of the Israelites in Egypt who were treated as slaves but still the children of God. Their understanding of God reflected their present condition. They viewed Him much like their cruel task masters. God's promises of deliverance only made their lives more miserable than bring relief (Exodus 5:1-21). They could not rightly relate to God in faith that He would eventually punish Egypt and set them free.

Later in the wilderness, they complained for the lack of water and bread. Psalms 103:7 says, "He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel." (NLT). Moses knew the loving heart of God but Israel knew God only what He could do for them. How many believers only love Him for prayers answered or blessings imparted but know little of His heart!

Centuries later, Daniel along with his nation were dragged off into Babylon. Here in this wicked city this man came into a key revelation that served to strengthen his love for God. Daniel understood the same God who delivered His people in Egypt and brought them into the land only to drive them out was still a God of mercy. One day they would return to the Promise Land.

For now the location, place and time was different but God does not change - we do and must change - in our relating to Him. Christians who remain fixed on what was or could be will soon learn that God is no longer in that place. Likewise, Daniel was no longer in Jerusalem. There was no temple to pray and worship. He had to learn to trust God in a heathenish society filled with violence (much like our present day) even when it appeared God was silent. Another person in captivity was Esther. In the book that shares her name there is no mention of God but His imprint on her life and the keeping power for His people is very evident.

Beloved, we rightly relate to God through faith not through our experiences or emotions. Let me pause to address a problem of regret. Regret will only deform and hinder our walk with Christ. We must stopped mulling over our failures, sins and weakness. If we truly repent, He forgives and places them under the blood of Jesus. God is not pleased when we speak to Him about sins that He has tossed into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19).

He is pleased when we take His promises in faith believing that no matter how our lives might have turned out, He deeply loves us. He changes us and makes different so we can relate rightly to Him.