FIRST
LOVE

I’M A Tabasco man. Anytime I eat virtually anything, I put Tabasco on it. When I go places, I enjoy discovering new kinds of hot sauce. I love fire in my food. The absence of fire for me means a bland dish. It’s just there.

Jesus loves fire. He wants a little hot sauce on the relationship that we cultivate with Him. He doesn’t want the basic Christian meal offering of duty and service. He wants my passionate, pleasurable pursuit of Him.306

[Jesus, Relationship with; Passion]

Matt. 22:37–40; Mark 12:30

ONCE I was flying from Atlanta back to Dallas and had to catch flight number 74. There is a famous soul food place in Atlanta called Pascal’s, and this place is famous for its fried chicken. Pascal’s has many booths in the Atlanta airport. So as I was at the airport waiting on my flight, the smell from Pascal’s was calling my name. I went over and ordered two thighs and a biscuit. Just as I sat down to eat my chicken, I heard the last call for my flight, flight number 74 to Dallas.

I was on the horns of a dilemma. Piping-hot chicken was calling my name. Flight number 74 was calling my name. Both of them were screaming in my ears. I had to decide if I would risk missing my flight to eat my chicken, or if I would leave my too-hot-to-eat chicken and catch my flight. I decided to take my chicken on the flight.

God is not saying to give up the “chicken” of religion. He’s saying don’t miss the flight of first love. Don’t let what you do for God get in the way of your relationship with God. Don’t mix, or miss, the connection.307

[Jesus, Relationship with; Priorities]

Rev. 2:4