Harvest Daily 01/21/05

 

January 21
The Antidote to Wandering

King David stands as the prime example of someone who lost their first love.  We remember him rightfully as the man after God's own heart - but we also remember David as a murderer and an adulterer.  We may ask the question, how could one who was known for his devotion to God fall so horribly?  What were the steps that led to his demise?

David's steps to losing his first love were subtle - but very real.  When David sat on his rooftop watching Bathsheba bathe on that fateful night, he was not walking with the Lord as he once had.  We read earlier in the psalms how David possessed this great devotion and passion for God.  But at this particular point in his life, we don't read of him worshipping or singing love songs to God.  David was spiritually idle.  The Bible says "at the time when kings go out to battle" (2 Samuel 11:1), King David was sitting on his housetop.  He was resting on his laurels.

When you stop progressing spiritually, you will soon be a train wreck waiting to happen.  We must recognize that deep in our nature we all have a natural tendency to wander.  It is no mistake God compares us to wandering sheep.  That is our natural tendency.  And as an old hymn says, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love."  We are prone to wander. 

So the first love Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:5 is the very thing that will counteract our wandering.  Our first love exists as the antidote to the wandering spirit we have.  That passion is what keeps us engaged in our relationship with God.  If you make Jesus your first love, everything else will fall into its proper balance.