One Thing is Needful
Basilea Schlink emphasizes that a passionate, personal first love for Jesus is the essential power that sustains believers through suffering and transforms lives.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink passionately calls believers to embrace the 'first love' for Jesus—a fervent, personal love that places Him above all else. She explains how this divine love, rooted in God's nature, empowers Christians to endure suffering and live victoriously. Drawing from the example of early Christians and biblical truths, Schlink invites listeners to seek this transformative love that brings joy, strength, and perseverance in challenging times.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, and He is the only one who can help our world today. Not a teaching, not a doctrine, not a vague belief in a supreme being. Only a personal relationship of love with Him, who is almighty and all-powerful, can change the lives of people and nations.
Today's program by Basilea Schlink will tell us how we can find this relationship with God and experience the love that is stronger than all the problems, suffering, and hatred in our world today. Probably never before was anything so needful as first love for Jesus. That is, the love which places Jesus first above all people, objects, and wishes.
Only when we have this love will we be able to survive the difficult times which lie ahead of us. This love characterized the lives of the first Christians. Many of them suffered martyrdom out of a passionate love for Jesus.
Yes, it was their love which impelled them to embrace it and to suffer for His sake. We see then the power of this first love. We need this first love in order to persevere.
God is love. Wherever He pours out His divine life into human hearts, men begin to love Him intimately and fervently. And nothing, absolutely nothing in the world, not even the greatest sufferings or horrors, not martyrdom itself, can erase this divine life.
This divine life is immortal. First love, precious gift. First love, the one thing we need.
First love. We should desire it, pray for it, and seek to attain it at any cost. This love for Jesus is not an unattainable goal.
It's within our reach. For it comes from Jesus Himself. It is an expression of His nature, of His innermost being.
Because He first loved us, He has already planted the seed of this love within our hearts. Love is the greatest power on earth. And because this divine love is so fervent, so pure, it has power to accomplish everything.
This love impels us to sacrifice and makes us strong to endure suffering. It can impart such strength to us because it unites us with the Almighty Lord of heaven and earth. Yes, it was for this love that we were created and redeemed.
Yes, Jesus, the eternal love, is the only one who can fill our hearts with true joy. He's waiting for this first love from us. Since I've given Him my life and sought to love Him alone, I have experienced how His love satisfies and can make us completely happy.
For hearts which are aflame, Sacrifice shall be Inspired by love for Him. Eternal love is still waiting And bleeds with every heart. Oh, won't you hear and answer? I cannot bear to part.
You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.
If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Necessity of a Personal Relationship with God
- God alone can help the world today
- Not doctrines but love with God changes lives
- A personal relationship is essential
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II. The Power of First Love for Jesus
- First love places Jesus above all else
- It sustained the early Christians through martyrdom
- This love imparts strength and perseverance
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III. The Nature and Source of Divine Love
- God is love and pours His life into hearts
- Love is immortal and cannot be erased by suffering
- Jesus plants the seed of love within us
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IV. The Call to Seek and Live in First Love
- Desire and pray for first love
- Love empowers sacrifice and joy
- Jesus waits for our love and fills us completely
Key Quotes
“Only a personal relationship of love with Him, who is almighty and all-powerful, can change the lives of people and nations.” — Basilea Schlink
“First love, the one thing we need.” — Basilea Schlink
“Because He first loved us, He has already planted the seed of this love within our hearts.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Seek to cultivate a passionate, personal love for Jesus above all else in your daily life.
- Pray earnestly for the gift of first love to empower you through trials and challenges.
- Allow divine love to inspire sacrifice and bring joy even in difficult circumstances.