First Love

First Love
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. —Revelation 2: 4
From outward appearances, Ephesus was one fine, well-organized church.
But a vital ingredient was missing—their first love.
How important is that first love? It’s more important than all of our works put together. Yet tragically, many churches today have forgotten this. Like Ephesus, they have become so organized that they can function without the presence of the Lord. But God is not interested in the works that you might do out of a sense of obligation. He wants your service to flow out of a heart of love for Him.
**What is the motive behind your works? Are you working out of habit? Tradition? The desire to make a name for yourself? Or is your motive love for your Savior?
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Revelation 2: 5). This was the word of the Lord to the church of Ephesus. And it’s His word to you if you have lost your first love. “Remember,” He said. Remember the love you felt when Jesus first lifted that heavy guilt of sin off your life. Remember the reckless abandonment you felt because you loved Him so much. Then He said, “Repent.” Godly sorrow, the Bible tells us, leads to repentance. And repentance involves a change. And lastly, Jesus said, “Repeat.” Go back and do your first works over—reading, worshiping, fellowshiping regularly.
If you do those things—remember, repent, repeat—your love for God will be rekindled. You will find your passion for Jesus once again.
Father, forgive us for moving away from our first love. Draw us again by Your Holy Spirit, that we may do the first works over. In Jesus’ name, amen.