2 Corinthians 1:15 English Standard Version (ESV) Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace.

The word recreation has a secondary meaning often overlooked. We have memories created for us by someone significant in our lives. We in turn re-create those memories for those we love, sharing in those things we have been taught to love.

My father would take me fishing just the two of us. I would paddle the canoe and he would fly fish. He would paddle the canoe and I would fly fish. He loved to fish and instilled a deep appreciation for fishing but even more precious was the one on one time together. I did not have to share him with others.

When we spend time with the Lord, do we do what we love or what He loves? He goes with us everywhere we go because He abides in us. Do we decide what we would like to do without any regard for His desires?

The simple answer is He loves the lost and dealing with the lost all the time is not a pleasant thing. They test us in ways that are less than pleasing. It is not easy to find pleasure in being tested by the lost. Can we feel our Lord’s joy in ministering to the lost or do we allow our emotions to dampen the experience?

Matthew 5:44 English Standard Version (ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Our humanity says “I cannot love them. I don’t have it in me.” But we do have it in us, the love of God abides in us and we do have “it” in us. So we must learn to paddle the canoe while the Lord fishes. We create motion, opportunity, variety, accessibility, and the Lord does the loving.

Just as with my father, experience teaches us how to do this by doing it together, re-creating the moment.

Revelation 2:3-4 English Standard Version (ESV)

³ I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. ⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

How well we are doing is not a direct reflection of our love.

These are the last words from yesterday and they deserve some follow up. Jesus’ message to the church at Ephesus begins with praise about how well they are doing in patience, forbearance and faithfulness. Then the other shoe drops, “I have this against you.”

What was this first love that they began with and abandoned on the way? Can we look into our own lives and see perhaps a glimpse of the same thing? Have we gotten so duty minded we have neglected our relation with our Lord? Have been so satisfied with the results of our work that we failed to seek satisfaction with being in His presence? Have we allowed the joy of fellowship to drown out His loving words to us in our personal relationship?

Do we study His word to teach others and neglect our own personal growth? Do we seek answers rather than Him who is the answer? Do we seek to discover who we are without discovering who He is in us?

Everything we have is a gift from God. Are we children that give a hug and a thank you and then run off to play with our gift without including Him in those moments? We would not have those gifts without Him and they will be most effective if we use them with Him.

It is easy to get busy. It is even easier to get concerned. He made us what we are to share in our lives, not to be ignored while we live life.