your first return
“You shall love the Lord.” —Mark 12:30
A priest was promoted to become pastor of several parishes. During his first several years as a priest, he had set aside ample time for a rich prayer life. With the increased responsibilities of a pastor, he realized that no matter how much time and effort he devoted to his parishes, there was always more work demanding his attention. The priest shortened his prayer time and began to spend more hours working. One morning, in his shortened prayer time, he sensed the Lord saying to him, “You used to love Me. Now you just work for Me.” The busy priest was cut to the heart. He fell to his knees and wept in sorrow. This encounter with the Lord profoundly transformed both his prayer life and ministry to be more fruitful and loving.
We are the bride of Christ. Our relationship with the Lord is to be that of marriage. We love Him devoutly, fervently, attentively, faithfully — with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk 12:30). The Lord invites us to a loving intimacy, espousing us in love and in mercy (Hos 2:21-22). “With age-old love” He has loved us (Jer 31:3). God so loves us that He did not spare His only Son for our sakes (Jn 3:16; Rm 8:32).
Nothing can separate us from His love (Rm 8:39), except our own free choice to turn our backs on His love. Without love, we are like the older brother of the prodigal son, just a “slave” working for the Lord (Lk 15:28-30). Let us return wholeheartedly to our first love of God (Rv 2:4).
Prayer: Father, may I make a return of love to You for all the good You have done for me (Ps 116:12).
Promise: “I will love them freely.” —Hos 14:5
Praise: Bishop Smith burns with zeal for the Gospel. He asks his people: “Can others tell that Christ is in you, before you tell them?”
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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