FIRST LOVE

1 John 4:19
Beloved, we love God because He first loved us.

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Whether we like it or not (I hope that we are more on the liking side), we are all saints. Having been created in the image and likeness of God, the love of God is already in our hearts since our conception. It is, thus, unexplainable, why, most of the times, we try to destroy that image. Out of pride and ignorance, we ignore all that are given us, and came to believe that all the good things we have now is due to ourselves; and all bad things come from God. Therefore, we sin and give in to temptation, because it satisfies the flesh – we want a feeling of something good and NOT something right.


In effect, we lost the saint within us. We become saints who try to be of this world. We harden our hearts and our minds. We claim that it is impossible; we say that we cannot stop sinning. We view sin as the law of gravity: insisting that it can't be broken. And yes, this is outright ignorance! “Come to your right mind, and sin no more. For some have no knowledge of God - I say this to your shame.”


We are not perfect, it is true. Although we have a desire to obey God as never before, there are still wrong desires that lurk within us - a war between the desire to do right and feel good. Therefore, we should realize the need for further repentance, desiring to be like Him. Our growth in holiness is the result of our cooperation with the Holy Spirit within us.


Let us pray +
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me so, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.
Amen +


“Perfect holiness is the aim of the saints on earth, and it is the reward of the saints in Heaven” – Joseph Caryl