First

I want to be loved for myself. I want the folks I love to want to be with me. I love doing things for my loved ones, but I don’t want to be loved for what I do,  but for who I am. In that way, I’m no different from God. 

We are made in the image of God and this mirror image is no clearer than in the way we love and want to be loved. Loving relationships include doing for each other, but FIRST comes the desire for each other. The essence of love is the pleasure of being WITH.

The lyrics of Lauren Daigle’s song FIRST expresses this wonderfully. 

Before I bring my need
I will bring my heart
Before I lift my cares
I will lift my arms
I wanna know You
I wanna find You
In every season
In every moment
Before I bring my need
I will bring my heart
And seek You… FIRST

We have little patience with those who claim to care for us, but who seek us only when we have something they need. God is so much more loving, and patient, than we are. How often do we go to him looking for something and not for Him? 

I wanna seek You
I wanna seek You
First
I wanna keep You
I wanna keep You
First
More than anything I want, I want You
First

One of the greatest acts of love is to listen. How often we want to express our “love” by giving the loved one a piece of our minds. We relish in “setting straight” and “getting things off our chest.” Isn’t that why when we think of prayer, the words we speak come to mind. The idea of silence and listening seems foreign to prayer. 
Before I speak a word
Let me hear Your voice
And in the midst of pain
Let me feel Your joy
Ooh, I wanna know You
I wanna find You
In every season
In every moment
Before I speak a word
I will bring my heart
And seek You First

Can we try to do better in putting God, and each other, FIRST?

Can we come looking to give instead of get?

Can we come listening instead of talking?

Can we come for presence and not presents?

FIRST.