Fueling the Fires of First Love

In this episode, Chris and I unpack Jesus's humility and desire for it to be reproduced in God’s people.

Could there be any worse conundrum? Any more grievous a contemplation? How horrific: to claim the name of Christ without Christ. To profess Jesus without the nature of Jesus. Is this not the height of hypocrisy; to claim to be what you neither evidence nor live? We must lament the Christian profession void of Christ-expression.

Jesus is Salvation: to know Him is to be rescued (Isa. 12:2). Jesus is the Prince of Peace: To know Him is to be governed by His pleasant ways (Pr. 3:17). Jesus is Wonderful Counselor: to know Him is to be heard, seen, and instructed (Ps. 32:8). Jesus is Almighty God: to know Him is to tremble at His greatness; secure in His fortress (Ps. 2:11) (Pr. 14:26). Jesus is Eternal Father, and are we obedient children at rest in His house? (Isa. 9:6)

In this episode, John Richards and I talk about the importance of embracing the whole of who Jesus is, in His kindness and severity. Jesus is beautiful in all His parts, making up the sum of His perfections.

The boast of life is to be a boast in God. This highlights God’s glory and abases us in an attitude of humility. We’ve come to this conclusion: God is all, and we are not. Too often, we put confidence in our strength, smarts, and status, and we are content to go on without the help of God. However, this is godless. What do I mean by that?- To be godless is to live unaware of your need for God, and to proceed in life without seeking His help; as if He has not offered Himself to be the God of our existence. In short, to be godless is to live life without God. This results in a life ruled by sin, worry, and fear. Without God, we are given over to the troubled nature of this life, and misplace our boast, seeking help from men. Here, we seek man’s wisdom rather than the wisdom of God. We seek therapy because we don’t know God’s healing. If this is the pattern of our lives, can we boast that we’ve come to know God? God’s name is Counselor, are we counseled? God’s name is Savior, are we saved? God is a rescuer, are we rescued? If God is the life-giver then why are we dead? If God is a river of riches then why are we as dry as a desert? There must be more, and oh there is! Place your trust, life, and boast in God, and He will be the help of your presence.

The majority of humanity is mismeasuring success. Humanity’s boast has been misplaced. The common view of success is often measured by the accumulation of possessions, the boast of accomplishment, and the lifting of oneself above another. Men and women are overcome with the desire to be envied and adored. They are absorbed in their interests, unconcerned for the person next to them. Sadly, this is not only the reality of heathens, meaning those void of all reality of God, but also of people who take on the name “Christian.” This is wrong. This is sin. This is what it means to love the world. This is not the love of God (1 Jn. 2:15-16).

Are you sick, suffering the dreadful disease of sin? Does sin-sickness corrupt your heart and torment your life? Is death at work in your body because sin rules uncontrolled in your life? Reality is: Knowing Jesus is joyful liberty. Indulging sin suffers the death of tyranny. Choose this day whom you will serve. Flee to the Savior for help and wholeness.

In this episode we talk about experiencing God as a treasure to be enjoyed.

In this episode we talk about what it means to burn with the passion of Jesus.

Does your life as a Christian consist of a heartfelt desire to help others? Do you want them to walk in the freedom of Christ that you have come to know and enjoy? Paul instructs us how to help rather than hurt. How to build up instead of tearing down. Now don’t get me wrong, sin must be exposed, dealt with, and healed from. At times we must tear down lies to implant truth. Sin must be exposed so that Christ’s righteousness is highlighted. However, sin is not driven out of hearts and lives by abusing others. Nor can the heart be cleansed of sinful desire by hurting them with the harshness of our fleshly tone. Instead, in the gentleness of humility we approach the sin-ridden, in preparation to sacrificially care for them. We must pursue others desiring sincerely their good and growth in God, expecting nothing from them, but wholeheartedly investing in serving them with the gifts of God at work in us for their welfare. Paul writes, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

“Happy is the one who is always reverent, but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble” (Proverbs 28:14).

The mind of men, without the enlightening influence of Jesus, cannot comprehend spiritual truth. The phrase “Happy is the one who is always reverent,” is a blatant contradiction to the experience of the majority of professing Christian’s in modern day. We are taught that happiness, more perfectly, true blessedness is found in the avoidance of seriousness. We reason that the consuming fire of God cannot rest in harmony with the nature of God’s love. However, God’s love burns: His love burns for us, revealing the longing of His heart, and when received, His love burns in us, consuming the desire of the flesh. On the other hand, if the beauty of God is rejected, the salvation-rescue of God spurned, this fire burns against us. When God’s love is received, God’s nature refines, and this melting of the love of God strips us bare, resulting in the singularity of love toward Jesus. God’s love satisfies us out of sin. We are perfectly known there.