THE VERSE ::

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

~Revelation 2:4 ESV

THE THOUGHT

The church in Ephesus seemed to have a lot going for it: their "works, toil, and patient endurance," their desire for holiness and their doctrinal discernment made this seem like a model congregation on the surface. But Jesus, who searches hearts and minds, looked beyond the externals, and expressed disapproval over the condition of their hearts. Yes, they were persevering with steadfast endurance-- but their hearts were no longer fully in their work. They had abandoned their first love. The fire of their passion was dimming. They souls were in jeopardy.

Does the condition of the church in Ephesus describe the condition of your heart today? Do you look back with longing at a time in your past when you burned with passion for God and were enthusiastic about knowing Him and glorifying Him? But somewhere along the line, you stopped feeding the Holy Spirit's fire, and the passion died away.

Jesus' words to the Ephesian church are also for you today: "Repent, therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first." Jesus' call is not a call of condemnation, of legalism, or of judgment. Rather, it is a call of love. It is the call of the Bridegroom to His wayward bride, imploring her to come back to Him as the only One who will satisfy with real life. Tim Keller writes about this kind of repentance that Jesus is asking for when he says, "Legalistic remorse says, 'I broke God's rules,' while real repentance says, 'I broke God's heart.' Legalistic repentance takes sin to Mt. Sinai, gospel repentance to Mt. Calvary. Legalistic repentance is convicted by punishment, gospel repentance becomes convicted by mercy." So come back to the cross, where your love was first kindled, and let the Holy Spirit reignite a passion for Him in your heart.

THE PRAYER

Jesus, I confess that I have abandoned my first love, and that my heart has grown cold towards You and towards Your Word. I have loved other things and turned the gaze of my heart from You to the empty things of this world. Please forgive me, and help me to repent and do the works I did at first. Show me the great extent of Your past, present, and future love for me, so that I will be motivated towards a greater love for You.

EXTENDED READING

Romans 12:11-12
Revelation 2:1-7