In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a deep personal relationship with Jesus as the controlling force in our lives. The speaker shares a personal experience where they realized that their attachment to a person had become their first love, rather than Jesus. This led them to understand that if anything absorbs us to the point of losing control or causing worry, it has become our idol. The speaker encourages listeners to surrender themselves completely to Jesus, renouncing all that hinders their love for Him, and committing to keeping His word. The sermon emphasizes that in these difficult times, our love for Jesus is essential and will carry us through.

God lives and works today. Yes, in this time of trouble and temptation, when the world seems to grow less safe every day, God is a mighty refuge and a stronghold. That is why it is so important that we make Him our home, and let Him make His home with us. However, everyone knows that the main ingredient for a real home is love. Today's meditation by Baselius Schling tells us what kind of love this is and why it is so important for us to attain it. Jesus says in John 14, verse 23, If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. We're living in a time when the question of whether or not we love Jesus has become more essential than ever before, for we're on the threshold of the most difficult times that this world has ever seen. There's only one thing which can help us to cope with our world's situation today and with the anxiety and fear which it brings. That is our relationship to our Lord Jesus. Is He the controlling force in our lives? Is He the first love of our hearts? As we read earlier, in John chapter 14, He wants to dwell in us and manifest His power in us. But He can only do this if we, as our verse said, keep His word and love Him. But how can we be sure that we really love Him? The Lord gave me light about this matter through an experience that I had. Previously, I thought that since I believed in Jesus, I loved Him as well. But this experience showed me differently. A person to whom I was greatly attached disappointed me deeply. Our friendship seemed to be ruined. I was completely miserable. But then I realized something's wrong. If this sorrow can so overcome me and nothing can comfort me, then this person and not Jesus is my first love. Yes, if one thing or another absorbs us so completely that we lose control of ourselves, for example, we can't sleep or we're filled with worry about this or that, then our love for Jesus is out of order. That which occupies and rules our hearts is our God, our idol. And if it's a person or a wish, a difficulty or a certain care that fills our hearts, then that has become our God for the time being. Jesus so yearns for our love. He so yearns to have a deep personal relationship with us that will carry us through the coming times of horror and terror. Therefore, let us remove all that is in our hearts that hinders us from giving Him our first love. Let us surrender ourselves completely to Him, giving Him our idols, renouncing all that absorbs us, committing ourselves anew to following Him along the ways which He chooses for us. Let me, Lord, go along with you. Both joy and sorrow share with you. Close at your side forever. Oh, let me clasp your hand in mine. The hand you gave me as a sign. I'm bound to you forever. This program by Basilea Schlenk has come to you from the Little Land of Canaan. If you would like a free leaflet by the same author, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.