The Love You Had At First
To the angel
of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the
seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
I know your works, your toil and your patient
endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who
claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know
that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and
that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you,
that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from
what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will
come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet
this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the
churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree
of life that is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:1-7
Remember the first time you knew you were
saved. There was elation, fear, and confidence, all at the same time. Do you
still have that first love? Find a way to rekindle it, so that you again will
truly know that elation, fear, and confidence again. What can we do when
something that once energized us becomes a burden? A career can be changed, but
the deepest matters of the heart, especially our relationship with Christ, cry
out to recapture the fervor that fueled earlier days.
The risen Lord praised the church in
If our own spiritual passion has grown cold,
let us remember the great sacrifice of Christ for our sin. Turn away from grudging service and
allow the wonder of His cross to rekindle our love for Him.
A passion for Jesus
should become a passion for telling others about
Jesus.
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