After much thought and communication with the Lord about the year 2024, He revealed that my word will be love. Before asking Him why, He told me to love people to Christ. This revelation came to me in December, just a few weeks before the new year.
Apparently, I didn’t know what He meant, so I asked Him, “How do I love people to Christ“? He responded, “By loving Me first.”
Those four words took me aback.
Here I was thinking, “I do love God and I do love others. What could He possibly mean?“
Of course, He knew what I was thinking, so He went on to explain.
“Love me first by spending more time in the Word. Then you’ll know the truth that will set others free.”
“Love me first by spending more time in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That will be your power.”
”Love me first by being a willing servant, just as Jesus came to serve.”
“Love me first by doing what needs to be done. Your courageous spirit is needed.”
“Love me first by praying more than you post. Those battles are won in the spiritual realm.
“Love me first by letting go of others’ opinions. You cannot please both God and man.”
“Love me first by believing that I can. And I will.”
When I say that truth hurts like a ton of rocks, it literally came out of nowhere. But, Abba Father didn’t mean harm, only truth with conviction and grace.
Many people think that loving God only means, going to church, maybe serving in church, giving tithes and offerings, playing ”the good samaritan” card, or just simply loving Him because that is what we were told to do from a young age.
But what happens when God sends you on a mission? Gives you an assignment that seems impossible? Tell you to say and do things that you really don’t want to do because it is too hard, uncomfortable, or makes no sense? Following the examples of the great prophets in the Bible, you do it because you truly do love God and fear Him enough to obey His call on your life.
Even when it’s hard. Even when you want to cry. Even when you want to give up. You push through it with the love, grace, and strength of God.
So you see, loving God first can be an act of obedience. And that will bring glory to Jesus Christ. What I am learning right now is that whatever God wants you to do, it’s not necessarily for you. But for those He assigned to you. For those who need hope and healing. For those who need freedom. For those who need salvation.
All of this is easier said than done. For the past month, I have been going through a test regarding the will of God. I am planning on sharing more in detail in my next blog, Be More Like Jesus: What Does That Truly Mean? But for now, I do want to share the experiences of some of the people in the Bible who chose to love God first even if doubt, discouragement, fear, etc. were present.
They loved their people enough to do what they were called to do by loving God and putting Him first. They are an inspiration to my life.
Those Who Walked In Obedience Out Of Love
Noah
Noah literally built an ark for protection against a flood, something that has never happened before. People around him probably thought he had lost his mind for believing in this supernatural occurrence and taking the time to build the thing that would protect him and his family from it.
But God.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. And because of that, Noah found favor in the eyes of God.
Sure, people probably thought that Noah was wasting his time, but in reality, he was actually saving his life.
Abraham
Abraham was a man of great faith. God Most High called Abraham to leave all that he had known. His country, his people, and his father’s household to a land that was not familiar to him. I don’t know about Abraham, but based on the season I am in right now, I would be petrified, confused, and wanting to back out before starting out on my journey.
But God.
He said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:2-3
Even though Abraham was leaving what he had always known, God sent him with a promise, protection, provision, and a blessing for the coming nations. And out of love and reverence to God, he went.
Ezekial
Ezekial’s call was to be a prophet. He wasn’t assigned to just any type of people. He was assigned to the people of Israel. It was noted by God that these people were obstinate and stubborn. For they had rebelled against God and would rebel against Ezekial as well.
But God.
He said, ”Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘you will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.” – Ezekial 3:17-19
Before sending Ezekial out, the Most High made him just as unyielding and hardened as the people He was sending him to.
The will of God put Ezekial in an uncomfortable situation. He had to go to his people (family, friends, and neighbors) and warn them about their wicked living. Even if they listened or failed to listen. If he did not, He would’ve been held accountable for not spreading the true message that could have set their souls free.
Even if the true message was not what they wanted to hear.
What is Love?
God is love. And we love because He first loved us. He created us in His image with a purpose and for a purpose. We did not choose Him. He chose us. And those that He has chosen have a higher responsibility. That responsibility starts with first loving God Most High.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’
Mark 12:30-31
Monique ST,
It’s Your Turn To Share!
Do you have a word and/or phrase for 2024? What do you want to focus on for this year? If you are walking in the will of God, has it been easy for you? Do you struggle with loving God wholeheartedly and loving your neighbor properly? Feel free to share.
Thank you for reading and see below for a worship song. Also, here is an extra blog post for encouragement that was written in 2020.
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