Return to your First Love
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If you’ve been with us within our first 4 years of business, then you have probably joined us from a division of our spiritual family. This blog is written for you for such a time as this. My heart is to encourage you and share what YHVH’s placed on our hearts during this season.
There are SO many in our “stream” or “tribe” that have been feeling lonely and isolated. What’s interesting, and this is just me, is that we all felt a call to separate from the ages past (ie. Church Age, Kingdom Age, etc), and for over a decade we’ve been getting fat on knowledge and revelation coming from the Ages of Zion and beyond (I’m not well versed in all of the ages, so don’t quote me on which one we’re in right now). However, many of us have found ourselves stuffed from a 10 yearlong banquet of knowledge, and now are feeling sluggish with no outlet to pour out from our overflowing cups.
Most of us disconnected from stereotypical “church life” and dove into INCREDIBLE ministry-type schools and groups of like-minded individuals pursuing similar niches of Heaven–and for a while it was so wonderful. What we had all been craving for so long tasted so sweet. Learning mysteries about our Father and His Kingdom, expanding our understanding of our own identities in Him, taking our positions as kings, priests, & oracles, governing, dealing with our junk, etc. replaced our pursuit of the body of Christ. Here is where I think our pendulum has swung too far in the other direction:
“If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor. 13:2
Mark and I have found ourselves right here. Full of so much incredible knowledge, but with no one to love on and pour into. YHVH has drawn us back into our First Love, just like in the letter John wrote to the church at Ephesus:
“‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first…” Revelation 2:2-5
On a corporate level, we’ve all got so wrapped up in the excitement of the mysteries and the teachings that we’ve forgotten our First Love and “the deeds we did at first”. Just loving people…where they’re at…no matter their knowledge level or gifting or spiritual stature, that’s where our First Love has always been found. And that’s why so many of us, I believe, are lonely.
In the abandonment of the “church age” we abandoned the church itself.
Many of us (me included) became elitist in thinking that we were a part of a higher order of the bride. This mindset is so counterproductive to His heart for her, for us.
So, forgive me for preaching, but many of your hearts are exactly where ours is right now–which is why we sent the “how can we help?” email. To return to our First Love and to pour into people on His heart. And please, don’t think we have ANYTHING against what has happened in our tribe over the last few years–it’s been incredible and such an honor to grow alongside our amazing brothers and sisters in every sect of our “stream”.
But the winds are changing, the season has shifted, and the time to return to Love has come.
What can we do on a practical level? Love His people.
Where are people hurting right now? Finances, relationships, physical & mental health–help them where they’re hurting. Cook them dinner, babysit their kids so they can go on a date, offer to pay their grocery bill, offer to sit with them while they get medical treatment, drive them to visit their elderly parents. Go knock on your neighbor’s door and bring them a surprise dessert–for no reason at all.
Get messy with people who are in a mess. Manicured relationships never go deeper than their pretty surface anyway.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting you engage in relationships that are toxic, abusive, or dangerous. Be wise as you love.
If we continue to eat from the banqueting table without sharing what nourishes us, then we are simply gluttons. And what nourishes us will eventually overwhelm and hinder our ability to function as we’re meant to. So love. Do as the Lord said through John and return to the deeds you did at first–love without abandon.
