❤️ First Love Weekly #32: A Young Man

A reserved young man visited our home church recently.

During the worship service, when the time came for us to partake in our weekly communion, I asked those who have not committed their lives to Christ to refrain.

And the young man refrained.

After the service, I approached him with curiosity and asked if he’d be open to sharing where he is in his journey with God.

He replied that he’s seen many who claim to be Christians carry on their lives in the same manner as those who aren’t. He thought it was foolish to claim such a title just for the sake of it without first bearing the meaning of being one.

He added that he’s aware that to be a Christian is to make a life-long commitment to follow Jesus— one that he cannot walk back.

So, given the gravity of the decision, he’s taking his time and being patient in anticipation.

My heart swelled up with gratitude for the Lord. What wisdom!

I replied that what he’s wrestling with is very much in line with the following Scripture:

I then encouraged him to follow through with the pursuit— that my prayer and desire is for God to one day enter his heart and for his eyes and ears to be open to see and listen.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, are we walking in the Spirit with the mentality of this young man day in and day out? In the manner that reflects that we’ve made a commitment to renounce all that we have to be followers of the Way?

The Bible says that others will know we are Christians in the way we love one another (John 13:35). And you and I both know that to love God with all that we are and to outdo one another in love is a VERY HARD thing to do— might I even say impossible without first receiving the infinite love of God.

But how? How can we fill our vessel with goodness that can be so easily filled instead with distractions, desires of our flesh, envy and resentment towards others, and all that is vile in this world (Gal. 5:19-21)?

By consistently reflecting on God’s love for us.

As the Father, He foreknew the pain and suffering Jesus would endure on earth. He took the measures and counted His cost. My goodness, can we even imagine for a second sacrificing our precious child for someone who’s considered our enemy!? As the Son, he foreknew the terror of facing the wrath of God to the point of being separated from Him. He also counted his cost— and like his Father, he decided it’ll all be worth it.

God and Jesus both sacrificed the dearest thing— their intimacy with each other— in order for us to be able to become one with them (John 17).

So, HOW COULD WE NOT BE MADLY IN LOVE with such a Father and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!? And let’s not forget our wonderful Holy Spirit who advocates for us, intercedes on our behalf, and reminds us of all the precious words God has spoken.

If every one of us took even a minute a day to be in complete silence with the Lord without any agenda and just enjoy being in the presence of the Lord, we would find ourselves to be more like Jesus and the world around us would be a better place, truly.

All that we desire on earth and of the flesh is simply our spirit’s inward cry to be with the Holy Trinity and bask in the glory of the Father. I will die on this hill.

So, what do we do with such bursting love that dwells within us?

We shall respond to love with love! With the heart of gratitude for each day gifted. With the mentality that no matter what may come our way, the joy of the Lord is ours to protect and ours to give.

Whether we know it or not, there are those around us like the young man who’s wrestling with the truth. And perhaps the one we’ve been praying for to come to know Christ is in need of seeing him in the way we love one another first.

May our Lord and Savior fill our hearts with love to overflow all the more greatly.

With love,
Jae

“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:3-5)