Falling In Love Again

Have you ever been in love? Have you ever experienced the overwhelming desire to get to know someone better?

When you first fall in love with someone you want to learn everything you can about who they are, where they come from, what they cherish, what repulses them, and where they dream of going.

The time you spend with them never seems to be enough. They are your first thought when you awaken and the last when you drift off to sleep.

All throughout your day the simplest things seem to remind you of them.

You leap at the chance to converse with them and every word they speak seems to brand itself in your memory.

Simply put, you want to become as close as humanly possible because you value them deeply.

They hold a treasured space in your heart.

Have you also ever felt distance grow between you and the one you love, so you do everything within your power to rekindle the flame you have for them? This is usually accomplished through intentional actions such as setting a specific time aside to spend with them, writing a sweet love note, or doing something that you know they will appreciate deeply. You remind yourself about the qualities that drew you to them and what you have been through together. 

When you have been with someone for a while it is easy to reach a point of comfort where the one you once treasured immensely becomes somewhat commonplace in your eyes. 

Recently, I have been contemplating how these scenarios also occur in our walk with Jesus.

Do you remember what drew you to Him? Do you recall the way He turned your world upside right after it had been upside down for far too long? Do you remember the thrill of hearing His voice and the sweetness of being alone in His presence?

"Yet I have this against you--that you no longer love Me as you did at first."

Revelation 2:4 (Weymouth New Testament)

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!"

Revelation 2:4 (New Living Translation)

Whew. Those are some intense verses.

It is the pain in the heart of a Lover who senses that His partner's heart has grown cold and perhaps even callus toward Him.

He longs for you.

There is not a single moment where you are not on His mind.

He desires to walk with you in the most intimate of friendships, not just on the weekends but on a daily basis.

“We love Him because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:19 (New King James Version)

His love inspires love.

Instead of you trying to be good enough to receive His love just ask Him for forgiveness and allow His love to wash over you. You will find that the greatness of His love will fan the flame in your heart far better than you can on your own. Be intentional in turning your heart in His direction and you will find yourself face to face with His unconditional love that has been eagerly waiting on you.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

Luke 15:17-24 (New Living Translation)

Just like the father in the story of the prodigal son, when you take a step in His direction, He comes running after you. He does not care about the smell of pigs (sin) on you, He can wash that all away. He just wants you and your heart. Stop allowing your excuses to keep you away from His open arms.

Too often we put walls up because we do not feel worthy of the immensity of His love. We allow distance to grow between us because we are afraid He will be repulsed by the stench of our sin and errors. 

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)"

Ephesians 2:4-5 (New Living Translation)

"For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain.

My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the Lord, who has mercy on you."

Isaiah 54:10 (New Living Translation)

"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1  (New Living Translation)

There is nothing we can do to earn His love. He gave it freely when Jesus died for us on the cross. His blood makes us worthy to enter His presence, not our good deeds. His love does not require a grand gesture from you in order to activate it. He already made the grandest gesture of all by giving His life for you. 

He holds His hands out to you asking you to walk with Him. One step at a time. 

The journey is not always exciting, there are mountain tops as well as deep valleys, yet even so, it is sweet beyond compare.

My challenge to you is to take a simple, intentional step toward Jesus in your life every day this week, as well as in the weeks to come, and see how His love will come running after you.

Cheering you on,

Rose-Élise Melodie