Recover Your First Love

“Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4

Has the frantic pace of life or hardship caused you to lose your first love?

The Church at Ephesus was a “good” church. It was busy with the work of God. Revelations 2:2-3 says they had “good deeds,” “hard work,” and “perseverance.” More than that, they “endured hardships” for Christ’s name. Deeds and hardships are effective distractors from the most important aspect of life: your love for God.

Ephesus is you. Ephesus is me. We program and potluck and perform. We persevere through the challenges of life, and the whole time we are busy, so, so busy. In the midst of this whirlwind, we feel the absence of something great. What is it? There is no time to sit and ponder; there is a long list of urgent tasks.

Love is spelled T-I-M-E. If you only occasionally bother to visit with your husband, the relationship becomes feeble. If time with your children only involves them telling you what they want, the relationship will become shallow. In the same way, a lack of quality, intimate time with God will slowly sever the connection. Meditation in God’s Word dwindles. Church begins to feel like one more thing to do. Prayer time becomes a chore; it is just a list of requests. There is no conversation, no confiding, no connection. The good works are continuing, but they come from a hollow place.

What is there to do? Go back. When you lose your keys, you return to the place where you last had them. When you lose your connection to God, you go back to the place where you last held that love. What severed the love connection you once had? Was it a loss in your life? Disappointments? A career that demanded all of your time? An idol that became more important than Him? Remember when you desired time with Him. Remember when you were moved by being in His presence. It is time to return to that place. It is time for repentance. It is time to restore your love for God.

Think about it.

What has taken first place in your life? Is it your children? Your husband? Your career? Your education? Life must be in balance, and you will love those around you the best if Christ is your first love. Everything else is out of balance when first place is filled by someone or something else.

Read about it.

Read about love for God and others in Mark 12:30, Matthew 22:37, and 1 John 4:7. Matthew 24:12 explains what will happen to love as time goes on.

Pray about it.

Dearest Lord, forgive me for prioritizing others above you. Restore me to you now. I want to know you again. I love you more than my own life. Give me a desire for more of you. In Jesus name.