Photo by Fadi-X on Unsplash
I have been prompted by the Lord (God the Holy Spirit) to lean into returning to my first love.
In this next-to-last installment, Jesus points out four lessons for returning to your first love.
Take a look.
Hidden kingdom treasure
Kingdom treasure is nothing new. It has been around longer than time. It used to puzzle me why God made it so difficult to enter his kingdom.
Jesus answered my (incorrect understanding) question when he told his followers why he spoke in stories.
The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”
He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them.
Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears.
That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it.
Matthew 13:10-13 The Message
A ready heart
A ready heart is one open to seeing what it hasn’t seen, embracing what it has yet to embrace, and delighting in being in His presence.
A ready heart does not think about what is asked; it simply does it.
A ready heart describes someone in love.
The ecstatic finder
A first-love relationship is about discovery. In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, Solomon talks about that relationship.
“God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things.”
Proverbs 25:2 The Message
God wants us to be close to him. He delights in showing us things, but only as he sees we are willing to see them. Therefore, he hides them, not to remain hidden, but to be found.
Scientists (those in love with him) delight in finding things. It is a love relationship.
In returning to my first love, I am looking for what my God has hidden. He wants me to find them (like the old-fashioned Easter egg hunt).
When I do, we both rejoice in the discovery.
The commitment to be all-in
Saying “es” to Jesus and asking him into your heart is a powerful step towards a righteous life, but it is far from a commitment to abandon your old life and wholly follow him.
After giving a very difficult-to-understand message, the New Testament book of John said,
“From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”
John 6:66 New International Version
There was a willingness to follow Jesus, but with limits.
A first-love relationship has no limits; it is an all-in commitment.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
Matthew 7:21 New Living Translation
An all-in commitment means doing the will of the Father, even (especially) if it runs against your will or desire.
“Knowing the correct password – saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance – isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience – doing what my Father wills.”
Matthew 7:21 The Message
In The Message Bible, Jesus says knowing the lingo isn’t enough. It takes serious obedience.
The prize is worth the sacrifice.
Jesus adds an illustration to his story.
“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidently found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic – what a find! – and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.
“Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls.
Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.”
Matthew 13:45-46
The Message
When my wife and I began dating, there was NOTHING I would not do to spend time with her. This is what “the prize is worth the sacrifice” looks like.
In 2026, God the Holy Spirit is asking me, Will you sacrifice everything you deem important to find the prize of being in my presence?
My answer is Yes, Lord, show me your way.
My challenge in 2026 is to:
- Lean into Jesus
- Let go of my self-determination
- Learn to trust in my God
This was easier when I first believed because I was naïve about a lot of things.
It is more difficult the longer I live in this world, because of the growing lawlessness I face daily.
It is a challenge, but one I have committed to embracing.
The cry of the Spirit has gone out.
Humanity has entered a time of historical proportions, and being close to God will mean the difference between finding spiritual freedom and deepening spiritual bondage.