Jesus, Is He My First Love

JESUS, IS HE MY FIRST LOVE? 1 John 3:16-17 - Revelation 2:1-7

Following Jonathan Edward’s Resolutions, one evaluative tool I use to routinely examine where I stand in my intimacy with God, whether He is merely prominent or preeminent in my life, is by critically & reflectively asking the following questions, then answering them appropriately & thoughtfully (avoiding both self-congratulation and excessive self-criticism):

Key: 1 = never/no/not 2 = seldom/rarely 3 = occasionally/sometimes 4 = usually/often 5 = consistently/regularly

1. Do I delight in no one or nothing more than Jesus? ______.

2. Do I long for times of rich fellowship with God in Scripture? ______.

3. Do I long for times of rich fellowship with God in prayer? ______.

4. Do I long for times rich fellowship with God in view of actively participating/serving in my local church? ______.

5. Do my thoughts during leisure time or/and activities drift toward the Lord? ______.

6. Do I consciously seek to promote God’s priorities in my activities? ______.

7. Are God’s priorities now my priorities (e.g., Have I taken ownership regarding of those things which he likes and dislikes)? ______.

8. Is my overriding maxim in my Christian conduct, to do “that (thought, attitude, behavior, action, and deeds) which will give God the most glory” clearly evident today? ______.

9. Am I willingly and cheerfully giving to the Lord by means of maximizing myself in the lives of others with my time, energy, and resources (Whose needs have I met today)? ______.

10. Has fear of rejection kept me from sharing, proclaiming, and advancing the good news of Jesus Christ today? ______.

11. Today, have I come to the honest declaration and appraisal that my singular purpose in life is to magnify Christ? ______.

12. Do I see sin from God’s perspective (do I see sin for what it really is)? ______.

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing, the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 www.prshockley.org