Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Worship (04/02/26)
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TITLE: He First Loved Us | Previous Challenge Entry
By Wilma Schlegel
04/09/26 -
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“No, this one is,” Daddy had pulled Narni back and pushed Melany toward Grandpop.
Narni didn’t protest, and she wasn’t jealous of her sister, it was alright, but secretly she wished she could have been Grandpop’s ‘special little one’.
That experience seemed to set the tone for her expectations in life.
There had been another time years later when Narni was overlooked by Pastor Downing, for an accomplishment at her church, when others had gotten recognized. Pastor Downing never seemed to have time for her and she’d never questioned that, it was the norm for her after all, but that time she’d found the boldness to ask him why. He’d said to her, “From those to whom much is given, much is expected.” No further explanation. He’d walked away; she’d watched confusedly after him. She tried not to think anything disrespectful but she wondered just the same, what did he think she’d been given? She’d wished he’d turn around and tell her.
Years passed and life went on. Narni’s life wasn’t bad. It was pretty good. She married and had children. Her husband was faithful to her but she didn’t appreciate his habit at any social gathering of leaving her alone and giving his attention to everyone else. It made her feel invisible. She figured he thought she was a boring church lady. Church wasn’t ‘his thing’.
One Sunday in her Bible study class the question was put to her and the others, “What would you have done if you’d lived when Jesus walked the earth, heard His teaching and His promises and then saw Him crucified? Would your faith have held (if you had any) or would you have felt let down and turned your back?”
Narni knew she wouldn’t turn her back. She respected others even if she didn’t feel especially important to them. She’d have gone to the tomb with spices. She’d have felt compassion, maybe secretly loved Him even if He hadn’t ever noticed her.
But she hadn’t lived then.
She knew from the Bible and from teachings that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. He’d suffered the terrible death of crucifixion and even worse, He’d suffered His father forsaking Him. All of this so that she could be forgiven. He deserved to be worshipped and as she sat in the worship service that morning, Narni wanted to worship Him, but as always, she wasn’t sure she was doing it right.
She knew that if He appeared now, she’d fall at His feet in complete humility, respect, awe and, yes, love. She had a sinking feeling though that He’d look past her to others more special. She wouldn’t be His special little one. Why should she be? He loves everyone the same so how could he have time for her? She wouldn’t begrudge Him the adoration He deserved though. Maybe then, that was worship. She just wished she could feel it.
Many times, she’d prayed, and she prayed it now, “Jesus, please help me to know you’re there and that you care. Be real to me.”
Almost immediately, a vision came to her. She was entering heaven. She wasn’t expecting to be noticed but was very glad to be there. Then, a figure stood in front of her. His hands reached out for her, for her. He had recognition in His eyes, His beautiful, loving eyes and He was looking right at her, Narni, and only at her. And then she heard the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard, “Harmony, my precious one.”
He’d called her by her name, her proper name!
The vision crossed some line that she couldn’t understand. It became not a dream but a reality. Her shoulders shook as a bolt of joy rocked her. A tearful, grateful whimper burst from her lips.
Jesus had answered her prayer! He knew her, He cared about her and He wanted her with Him, He really did!
Narni, Harmony, wept and loved and worshipped. Her cup ranneth over.
This then, was what it was to be ‘my special little one’. This then, was the ‘much’ that she’d been given. It was joy like she’d never known.
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“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19, NIV
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