Faithy 8-6-03

 

TWELVE EVIDENCES THAT I HAVE LEFT MY "FIRST LOVE" FOR
THE LORD



Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against
thee, because thou hast left thy first love.




1. When my delight in the Lord in no longer greater
than my delight in someone else, I have left my "first
Love".
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.

2. When My soul does not long for times of rich
fellowship in God's word or in Prayer, I have left my
"First Love"
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.

3. When my thoughts During leisure moments do not
reflect upon the Lord, I have left My "First Love".
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.
Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his
countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in
all his thoughts.

4. When I claim to be "only human," and when I easily
give in to those things which I know displease The
Lord, I have left my "First Love."
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first
commandment.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide
in my love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

5. When I do not willingly and cheerfully give to Gods
work  or to the needs of others, I have left my "first
Love"
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his
bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love
of God in him?

6. When I cease to treat every Christian as I would
the Lord, I have left my "first love".
Mathew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto
them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
love one another.

7. When I view the commands of Christ as restrictions
to my happiness rather than expressions of his Love, I
have left my "first love."
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him.

8. When I inwardly strive  for the acclaim of this
world rather than the approval of the Lord, I have
left my "first love."
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but
I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you.

9. When I fail to make Christ or his  word known
because I feel rejection, I know I have left my "first
love."
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they
have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

10. When I refuse to give up an activity which I know
is offending a weaker brother, I k have left my,
"first love."
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy
meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him
with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

11. When I become Complacent to sinful conditions
around me, I have left my "first love."
Mathew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold.

12. When I am unable to Forgive another for offending
me. I have left my "first love."
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he
hath not seen?

Personal Evaluation:

1. Do I delight in someone else more then in the Lord?
2. Do I no longer long for times of fellowship in
God's Word and in prayer?
3. Do I reflect upon other things rather than upon the
Lord during leisure moments?
4. Do I easily give in to those things, which I know
displease the Lord?
5. Do I give grudgingly to God's work or to the needs
of other People?
6. Do I fail to treat every Christian as I would treat
the Lord?
7. Do I view the commands of Christ as restrictions to
my happiness rather than expressions of His love?
8. Do I inwardly strive for public acclaim more than
the approval of the Lord?
9. Do I fail to witness to others because I fear
embarrassment or rejection?
10. Do I offend weaker Christians because I am
unwilling to give up a questionable activity?
11. Do I overlook or ignore the sinful conditions in
my life?
12. Do II hold grudges against those who have offended
me?