YOUR FIRST
LOVE
“….BECAUSE THOU HAST “LEFT” THY FIRST LOVE….”
(REVELATION 2:4 KJV).
*
God has a complaint against the church
(his people) in Revelation chapter 2. “…I
have this against you …you have left
your first love…” (Revelation 2:4). He
said “THEY’ have LEFT their FIRST LOVE.
Initially you think THEY have left or departed
from the love THEY once had for HIM, but at second glance you realized they
have left or departed from the FIRST love HE had for THEM. MEDITATE ON THAT!
“…I
have this against you …you have left your first love…”
(revelation 2:4) NASB). What
does God mean that YOU have left "YOUR" FIRST LOVE God?
The truth “IS” no one experiences a true “first” love
until they have had an experience with true LOVE; FIRST. “…Love is patient … [God’s]…love
is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor
others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. … [God’s grace-filled]…love never fails”
(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…There is no greater LOVE …” (John 15:13 NLT).
“…God so
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should
not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). God “…spared
not his own Son, [in order to demonstrate FIRST LOVE] but delivered him up for us all?”
(Romans 8:32 KJV). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us and sent His
Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
“…God SO [first] LOVED the world, that he
GAVE…” (John 3:16). “…Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that HE [first] LOVED US...” (1
John 4:10 KJV). “We
love,
because HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1
John 4:19 ASV). “….God SHOWED HIS GREAT
[first] LOVE FOR US by sending Christ
to die for us while we were still sinners…”
(Romans 5:7-9 NLT). “…[Nothing]…will be
able to separate us from
the [first] love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord…”(Romans 8:31-39 NASB). He
has “….loved [you]...with an everlasting
[first] love….” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV). “…God is
[first] love…” (1
John 4:4-8 KJV). “…There is no greater [first] LOVE …” (John 15:13 NLT).
Whatever and whoever came before God as
your “imagined” first love is NOTHING compared to his FIRST LOVE for YOU. Thus,
God
“IS” your FIRST “true” LOVE.
God LOVED you FIRST. “…God SO LOVED the world…” (John 3:16). He
LOVED you BEFORE you are ever aware of it. “….God SHOWED HIS GREAT [first] LOVE FOR US by sending Christ to die for
us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT). You DID
“NOT” LOVE God, but he LOVED YOU; FIRST. “…not that we loved God, but
that he loved us...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
God demonstrated and expressed his FIRST LOVE
for you by sending his SON. “…Herein is love …God …sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
The reason God sent his
son is because SIN created a barrier or chasm between you and him and he
couldn’t LOVE you like he SO desired to love you. God’s eyes “…are TOO pure to look on evil…” (Habakukk
1:13 NIV). “…Your eyes are too pure to approve evil…”
(Habakukk 1:13 NASB). “…You can not look on wickedness with
favor…” (Habakukk 1:13 NASB).
AND human eyes are too sinful to look upon
holiness. “…Moses said, “…show me your glory … [God said,] …When my GLORY
passes by, I will …cover you with my hand until I have passed by …”
(Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
His HOLiness is so PURE
it is like a blinding, transparent light that is much, much too brilliant for
the naked human eye. “… It shone
with the GLORY of
God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal…” (Revelation 21:11 NIV).
As a child you were
told not to look directly at the sun. If you do happen to look at the sun with the
naked, human eye, the damage to the retina is irreversible. God’s HOLiness
is more brilliance than that
of the sun. “… And
the city had no
need of the sun … for the
(holiness) … of God did
lighten it …” (Revelation 21:23 KJV).
Looking
directly at the sun damages the eyes, whereas looking at God’s HOLINESS will
kill you. “…You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live …” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
The barrier between God
and the recipients of his LOVE exists because HOLINESS can NOT and will NOT “EVER”
MIX with SIN. SIN and HOLINESS SEPARATES instead; just like oil and water. “…Your INIQUITIES (sin) have separated between
you and your God (holy) …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…It’s YOUR
SINS that have cut you off from God (who is HOLY)…”
(Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
However, God’s FIRST
LOVE for you motivated him to SEND Jesus who is like an EMULSIFIER that enables
the mixture or emulsion of two unlikely substances. “…He that is joined (MIXED) unto the Lord
(Jesus) is ONE
spirit… [united with the HOLY
God]”
(1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).
If an emulsifier is
added to the oil and water it will miraculously enable them to MIX together. “…He that is joined (MIXED together) unto
the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit… [united
with God]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).“…. Old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
Jesus miraculously
enables the HOLY God and SINFUL mankind to MIX together and become ONE
[unbreakable] SPIRIT. “…What
therefore God has joined together, let no man separate…” (Mark 10:9
NASB). “…Let no one split apart what God has joined together…”
(Mark 10:9 NLT).
God’s FIRST LOVE for
sinful man couldn’t be fully expressed. His HOLY nature simply could NOT mix or
have a relationship with SINFUL man. Therefore, “… [He
sent] …one
… who can reconcile
God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
The barrier of SIN is A
REALITY. It PREVENTS God’s HOLY LOVE from being expressed, accessed, or reached. “…
[Only]…one … can
reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT). “….Apart from [the man
Christ Jesus], you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
God MADE a way for YOU to experience his
FIRST LOVE attitude toward you through salvation. “…Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY … no man cometh unto
the Father, but by
me…” (John 14 6 KJV). “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12a NLT).
Even with ALL the rituals and elaborate
sacrifices performed in the Old Testament, mankind could NOT perpetually “MIX”
with the “HOLY” love of God! “…For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…” (Hebrews 10:1-4 NASB).
The significance and
IMPORTANCE of being made HOLY is about having an uninterrupted, bonding
relationship with the HOLY God; your true FIRST LOVE! “…YOUR SINS have hid his
face from you … he will not hear… [you] …” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…Because of YOUR SINS, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore…”
(Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
When there is a BARRIER
it blocks God’s access to you, shuts off his ears from you, and prevents him
from fully expressing his FIRST LOVE attitude toward you. God can NOT bond,
MIX, or be yoked together with SIN or SINNERS. “…Be ye NOT
unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what
communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Corinthians
6:14-15 KJV).
Remember the biblical
story of the poor man and the rich man? “…The poor man died and was carried away by
the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his
eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off
my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham
said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and
likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in
agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm
(barrier) has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you
cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us…”
(Luke 16:22-25 NASB).
Without Jesus, the
emulsifier, there would ALWAYS remain an impenetrable
BARRIER or CHASM between mankind and God. “…There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and
humanity—the man Christ Jesus…”
(1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).
Jesus OPENED the way
for God and mankind to MIX or BOND together in an UNITED, loving, and covenant
relationship! “….By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the
Most Holy Place…” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NLT). “Jesus saith…I am
the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV).
Not only does holiness and sin NOT mix or
bond, but being in the HOLY PRESENCE of God without having your sins atoned for
causes DEATH. “…“you
cannot see
my face,
for no one may see me and live.”
…” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV)
In the Old Testament, when the HIGH PRIEST
went into the HOLY of HOLIES a scarlet rope was tied to their feet just in case
his sins were not atoned for properly and he died in the presence of God’s
Glory. “…Moses said, “…show
me your glory.” …The Lord said …“you cannot see
my face,
for no one may see me and live.”
…” (Exodus 33:16-23 NIV).
Without Jesus, the
emulsifier, no one would be able to MIX or BOND with God or be ENGULFED in the
HOLY PRESENCE. “…[There is] … one … who can
reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT). “… Apart from Me, you
can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
“… [You] … can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth … [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…It is God who works in [you]… to will and
to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13
NIV).
Jesus’ sacrificial death was
the atoning sacrifice for your sins. “He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV). “…Behold
the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world”
(John 1:29 KJV). .“…God so
loved the world, that HE GAVE his only begotten (specially
created) Son …”
(John 3:16 KJV). “...whosoever believeth (depend upon) in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life…”
(John 3:16 KJV).
God is your FIRST LOVE.“….HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1 John 4:19 ASV). “…not that we loved God, but
that he loved us
and SENT
HIS SON to be the propitiation for our
sins.” (1
John 4:10 KJV). “…[God] … SPARED NOT his own Son, but DELIVERED him up FOR US ALL…” (Romans 8:32 KJV). “…God SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US by “SENDING” Christ to die for
us WHILE we
were still sinners…” (Romans
5:7-9 NLT). “… the just for the unjust,
that he might BRING US to God…” (1
Peter 3:18 KJV). “…There is no GREATER LOVE than to lay
down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT).
“…BY GRACE … [you are] …saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of
WORKS, that no man should glory…”
(Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “….God …now
commandeth all men every where to REPENT…” (Acts 17:30 KJV). “… REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…”
(Acts 3:19 NASB). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…”
(Luke 13:3 KJV). “…BY GRACE … [you are]
…saved …not
of WORKS, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
Therefore,
“…He that is joined unto the Lord is ONE spirit (or united with
the HOLY God)…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). HOW? “…The Lord (the emulsifier) is that Spirit…” (2
Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…God [sends]… forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” [YOUR]… HEARTS…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…Jesus Christ is …
[NOW] … in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 John 1:9 KJV). “… [God]…
[considers]…us ACCEPTED in the beloved (Jesus Christ)…” (Ephesians 1:6 KJV). Therefore, “…if Christ be in you… [then] …the Lord …[is]
… in your presence (and “YOU” are in his presence) …” (Romans 8:10 KJV & Exodus
33:16-23 NIV). “… [Jesus
sets]… me in [god’s] … presence forever…”
(Psalms 44:12 NASB). “…YOU (God) MAKE HIM (her) “MOST”
BLESSED forever … in YOUR PRESENCE…” (Psalms 21:6 NASB).
“ …[you]
… have this treasure (his holy indwelling spirit) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be
of God, and not of us...” (2
Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV).
“… [God’s
indwelling Spirit is]…for our profit, that [we] might be partakers (participants) of his holiness...”
(Hebrews 12:10 KJV). “…there is none like unto thee…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). He is “…majestic in holiness…” (Exodus 15:11 KJV). “…[God is] … very GREAT; [He is] … clothed in SPLENDER
and MAJESTY,
Covering [Him]self … with LIGHT as with a cloak…”(Psalm 104:1-2 NASB). “…there is none like
unto thee…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). “…His
radiance is like the
sunlight; He has
rays flashing from His hand…” (Habakkuk 3:4.NASB. “… His … [Holiness] … is above earth
and heaven…”
(Psalms 148:13 NASB). “…. the whole earth is full of [your HOLY]…glory…” (Isaiah 6:3).
God is your FIRST LOVE and DESIRES to EXPRESS his HOLY LOVE to YOU through
his indwelling Spirit. “…God
is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “He said
to [them].., "You are My Servant, Israel (HIS PEOPLE), In Whom I will show
(express) My GLORY (HOLY NATURE)…” (Isaiah 49:3 NASB).
You are the recipient of God’s LOVE. He DESIRES
to show you His HOLY glorious LOVE “through” Christ. “…God is LOVE…” (1
John 4:4-8 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “….The Word (Jesus) became flesh, and dwelt
among us, and we
[can see] His (God’s) GLORY (HOLY
nature)…” (John 1:14 NASB).
God’s HOLY LOVE and HOLY NATURE is
witnessed through Jesus. “… The Son (Jesus) is
the radiance of God’s GLORY (HOLY nature) and the
EXACT representation of his
being….” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
God’s FIRST LOVE attitude is expressed
through his indwelling HOLY SPIRIT,
which PROVES he is “IN” love with you. “…God’s
love has been poured
out INto
our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us…” (Romans 5:5 NIV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…[Spiritual]… Love [is]… the
perfect BOND of UNITY...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB).
God's LOVE is "IN" you through the indwelling Holy Spirit who has been given to YOU. Therefore, God is "IN" LOVE with you, as experienced and expressed, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
“ … [You] … have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the POWER
may be of God, and not of us...”
(2 Corinthians 4:6-7 KJV). “…Know ye not
your own selves …that Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians KJV). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).
“… We
now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars
containing this great treasure. This
makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves…” (2
Corinthians 4:7 NLT).
God said: “…I will
put a new spirit in you (an emulsifier). …” (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole,
put (or MIX) you together—spirit,
soul, and body
…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 MSG). “…Jesus Christ is in you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…Jesus
Christ maketh thee whole (HOLY)…”
(Acts 9:34 KJV). NLT).
“…Ye shall be holy
unto me: for I the Lord am holy…”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is in
you…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…That’s why those who are still
under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not
controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have
the Spirit of God living in you. (And
remember that those who do not
have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at
all.)….”
(Romans 8:8-11 NLT).
“… I AM HOLY…” (1
Peter 1:14-16 KJV). “…you are
… A HOLY NATION…” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “…by the Grace of God … [you
are what you are] …” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…How
great is [the HOLY God’s] … benevolent kindness…” (Psalm 31:19-20 KJV).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). “…be
holy, because I am holy…”
(1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy
will not see …
[God] …” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT).
God is inherently HOLY
and mankind can “ONLY” become HOLY
through the emulsifier, Jesus Christ. “…It is
God who works IN YOU to will and TO
ACT…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “….Apart from [Jesus]…YOU CAN DO NOTHING…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them…” (2 Corinthians 6:16
KJV). “…May … God … WORK IN US what is pleasing to him, THROUGH Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God’s supplies HOLINESS to his
people through the INDWELLING SPIRIT. “…God will supply all [your need for holiness]…” (Philippians
4:19 NASB). “…God will generously
PROVIDE (give) all you need (holiness). Then you will always have
everything you need (holiness) …” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT).
HOLINESS does NOT
naturally MIX with SIN. HOLINESS is NOT SIMPLY a behavior, action, or some
ideology of perfection. God insist that
his people “…be holy…” (1 Peter 1:16
KJV). “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy…”
(Leviticus 20:26 KJV).
First,
HOLINESS is “NOT” something you DO.
“…the Father that
dwelleth in … [you], he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV). “…God
…works in you … TO ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “ … God … equip you with
everything good for doing his will …”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)
Second,
HOLINESS is something you become
through the indwelling Spirit. “…The Holy Spirit gives
birth to… [HOLINESS]…”
(John 3:6 NLT). “ …The Spirit of God
dwelleth in you…” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “…[The
holy God] …
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Third,
HOLINESS is something you can practice as you are empowered by the indwelling
Spirit. “… God
… work[s] … in … [you] … what is pleasing to him, through
Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…”
(John 14:10 KJV).
Finally, God’s HOLINESS sets, those
who BELONG to him, apart for honorable and respectful USE.
Apostle Paul said“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). He, himself was“….set
apart for
the gospel of God...” (Romans 1:1 NASB). “…God anointed
(set apart) Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and POWER…”
(Acts 10:38 NIV).
“…you are … A HOLY NATION…”
(1 Peter 2:9 NASB). YOU ARE no longer dominated by the sin nature unless you
CHOOSE to be. “…The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to [unholiness]. …I don’t really understand myself, for I want
to [be holy] …but I don’t [allow myself to depend upon God’s indwelling
Spirit]... Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not
the one doing wrong; it is [the impurity and unholiness]… living in me that
does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in
my sinful nature. I want to [be holy) … [which]… is right, BUT I CAN’T…Who
will free me from this life that is
dominated by [impurity and unholiness]?” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT).
“…The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “If the Son therefore
shall make you free, you SHALL be free
indeed…” (John 8:36 KJV). “….Apart from [the indwelling
spirit],.. [you]… can do nothing…” (John 15:5
NIV).
Jesus EMPOWERS you “…to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…”
(Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “…
[He strengthens you]…according to the
POWER that worketh IN [YOU]…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
HOLINESS is the HIGHEST
standard of human conduct and without the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT it would be
IMPOSSIBLE for mankind to achieve such a lifestyle. “…The things which are impossible with men … [are] …POSSIBLE… [with God] …”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…HE WHICH HATH
“BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN [YOU]… “WILL” “PERFORM” IT “UNTIL”
the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6 KJV).
Remember SIN creates a
BARRIER between sinful man and the HOLY God. This barrier will ALWAYS cause a
SEPARATION. God DESIRES to always express his unchanging FIRST LOVE attitude
toward you, but you voluntarily and willful choose to accept, receive, and
depend upon that love. SO, “…Do not quench the Spirit…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB). “… Do not
stifle the Holy Spirit...” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT).
God made a way (Jesus)
to express his FIRST LOVE attitude toward YOU. It is obvious, by all he has
done, that God LOVES you. You were NOT even aware of it. He sent his son in
order to MAKE you become AWARE of his FIRST LOVE attitude for you.
His LOVE for YOU “IS” YOUR
“first” love. “…HE FIRST
LOVED [YOU]…” (1
John 4:19 ASV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…There is no greater LOVE …” (John 15:13 NLT). “…HE FIRST
LOVED us…” (1 John 4:19 ASV).
A baby is born to his or her parents. Ideally, the baby is WANTED and
LOVED “before” they arrive and “before” they become AWARE of their parents
LOVE.
Ideally, the baby’s parents become their “FIRST” love. A FIRST love is
so compelling, convincing, exciting, captivating, persuasive, absorbing,
fascinating, gripping, and enthralling as it causes the recipients to draw, cast, and abandons ALL the
senses into its magnetic CARE and SAFETY.
“...Casting all your care upon
him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…The LORD
“WILL” accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…”
(John 14:31 NASB). “…I will supply all your
NEED…”
(Philippians 4:19 KJV).
“…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). In the
“FIRST” LOVE relationship with God we find a SPIRITUALLY intimate, bonding
experience. It is FILLED with mutual joy, emotional comfort, unending,
unbreakable, faithful, committed companionship, sensitive grace, merciful favor,
eternal goodness, safety and peace, and mind-blowing fulfillment and
satisfaction. “We
love,
because HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1
John 4:19 ASV).
A FIRST human love can be emotionally and physically compelling,
convincing, exciting, captivating, persuasive, absorbing, fascinating,
gripping, and enthralling to the degree it draws ALL your human senses into the magnetic
experience of a FIRST human LOVE.
When so many of the human senses are heightened, in this emotional and
physical way, people say “I am “IN” love.”
He or she is “IN” love with the person who is DRAWING their many senses
into this MOVING and all ENCOMPASSING relationship, in which they, most likely,
have never experienced before.
The “IN” of the phrase “IN” love is being used as a preposition to
indicate that this experience of emotional and physical LOVE has you engulfed,
or surrounded, or totally preoccupied.
When God’s is “IN” love with you and it is experienced like a FIRST
LOVE, God actually DOES engulf, surround, and become preoccupied with thoughts of you, forever.
"...How precious...are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand..." (Psalms 139:16:17 KJV). " ...The angel of the Lord is a guard...he SURROUNDS and defends...[God's people]..." (Psalms 34:7 NLT). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). (Hebrews 1:9 NASB). “…My Presence will go with you…”
(Exodus 33:14 NIV). “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV).
God will “…Never leave nor forsake you…”
(Hebrews 13:5 KJV). “…Behold, I am with … [you] and will keep … [you]
whithersoever [you]… goest…I
will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV).
“…if
Christ be in you… [then] …the Lord … [is]
… in your presence (and “YOU” are ENGULFED in his presence) …” (Romans 8:10 KJV &
Exodus 33:16-23 NIV). “… [Jesus
sets]… me in [god’s] … presence forever…”
(Psalms 44:12 NASB). “…YOU (God) MAKE HIM (her) “MOST”
BLESSED forever … in YOUR PRESENCE…” (Psalms 21:6 NASB).
Unfortunately, when the human senses are ALL heightened by this
emotional and physical “IN” love experience it is MOSTLY chemical.
Like everything else, this chemical is a GIFT of God and was GIVEN to
enhance the BONDING experience of love. “….every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, cometh down from the Father of lights…..” (James 1:17 KJV). This
particular chemical gift is a hormone called “oxytocin.”
Some experts actual call it the “LOVE” hormone
and it is usually used to explain the unique bond between the infant and the
mother.
Oxytocin is said to be a very powerful
chemical, in the brain, that highly contributes to pairing, bonding, or
attaching during the variety of social interchanges or relationships.
Oxytocin is thought to be released during
the bonding times between two people, stimulating their oxytocin systems, to
biologically influence them to crave or desire to repeat the attachment
behaviors over and over again.
In the beginning, of an “IN” love dyad, two
people experience heightened feelings for the other’s love, attention,
presence, and affection.
These mutual, heightened feelings are the “IN” love experience in action and oxytocin is
heavily released during this initial period. Oxytocin produces a physical JOLT, in the brain, that is experienced as an EMOTION. That's why, I believe, LOVE is thought to be limited to or understood as something you FEEL emotionally.
Oxytocin supposedly BOOSTS the “IN” love
bonding experience which heavily influences two peoples desire to attach, with one
another, over and over again.
Oxytocin not only seems to heighten the “IN”
love attachment, but it is the culprit that produces a “feel good” affect in the brain; experienced as peace, calmness, contentment,
and well-being in the individuals involved.
This God-given hormone, oxytocin,
obviously intensifies the “IN” love bonding experience and can possibly SEAL
the relationship for long-term endurance as well.
The initial “IN” love bonding experience
is fragile, especially since emotional FEELINGS are ruling over
ALL other senses.
When a person FEELS “IN” love they believe
their needs are being met in a healthy balanced way and FEEL free to surrender
their dependence upon the other person.
This kind of TOTAL abandonment, to
another, is part of being “IN” love. When being “IN” love appears dependable
and satisfying, oxytocin will help make the mutual intimate interchange something
one wants to pursue throughout one’s life.
It is important to note, when two people
totally give themselves over to the “IN” love bonding experience it can become
HIGHLY addictive, especially if it is a “first” love.
That innocent and vulnerable “first” love allows
a person to abandon themselves to the “IN” love bonding experience.
After a “first” human love, adults know
that anything you give yourselves over to completely and it gives you a “feel good” experience, like oxytocin
does, it can easily become a risky and destruction addiction.
Oxytocin was meant to be a GIFT. Oxytocin
was not meant to HARM people, but meant to enable or empower them to BOND to
LOVE. “….God saw … it was
very good…”
(Genesis 1:31 KJV). “…Love does no wrong
(harm) to others…” (Romans 13:10 NLT).
I believe the purpose of “oxytocin” is to produce an authentic “feel good” bonding experience that was meant FOR true SPIRITUAL LOVE and was also meant to EMPOWER “UNITY” in loving relationships “…love, which is the perfect BOND of unity...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB). “….[Nothing]…shall
be able to separate [you]… from the love of God
which is “in” Christ Jesus our Lord…”
(Romans 8:38-39 KJV). “….the…faithful
love of the Lord, never ends...” (Lamentations
3:22-23 NLT). “…He
[or she]… that is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT….” (1
Corinthians 6:17).The “feel good”
bonding hormone that comes along with LOVE is critical.
The “feel
good” hormone is produced during BONDING interchanges and can SEAL or UNIFY
a relationship with a person or thing. “…love (which produces oxytocin is) the
perfect BOND of unity...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…He [or she]… that is joined unto
the Lord (the GOD of LOVE) is ONE
SPIRIT….” (1 Corinthians 6:17).
For instance in the initial stage of
parenthood, parents are “IN” love. When parents are “IN” love, with the new
infant, they can become totally engulfed in doing one or more of the following
things in overdrive: pick the baby up, cuddle them, breast or bottle feed them,
massage them, kiss them, play with them, hold or rock them, sing to them,
change their diaper, talk to them, read them a story, or take a nap with them.
All these activities raise oxytocin levels in both infant and parents.
This initial stage is meant to heighten
and SEAL the SPECIAL bond of LOVE for the duration of the long-term relationship. “…love
(which produces oxytocin is) the perfect BOND of unity...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB).
Everything God created was very good. “….God saw … it was
very good…”
(Genesis 1:31 KJV). Heightened emotions are produced by oxytocin, in the brain and oxytocin makes you “feel
good” times two. “… the perfect BOND of unity...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB).
Oxytocin also helps enhance and SEAL the
PAIRING or BONDING between the various relationships (organic or nonorganic) in
your social interchanges. . “…BOND of unity...”
(Colossians 3:14 NASB). “… is ONE
SPIRIT….” (1 Corinthians 6:17). “… the two are UNITED into ONE…” (Genesis 2:24 NLT). IN ORDER TO HAVE A FIRST LOVE YOU MUST EXPERIENCE TRUE LOVE.....FIRST!
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