Revelation:2.4-5
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
As one of the earliest churches, the church in Ephesus had great works to admire. They were strong in faith which made them persevere and endure hardships( Revelation 2:2-3). They indeed had good works to show for their faith.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to keep their lampstand in its place. It is sad to know that all their perseverance and good deeds could not give them life.
We cannot be like them. We can’t work hard, endure and persevere just to miss the most important thing, eternal life. Hating sin and pagan doctrines isn’t enough to give us life. We need to learn to stay and grow with our first love. Revelation 2:7 says to the one who listens and is victorious, he would be given the right to the tree of life.
Now, it is so easy to get yourself busy for God, endure hardship and then think that you have the first love. We are carried away by our deeds and our hatred for sin and interpret it as true love for God. You may want to consider your ways and examine them if you are truly with your first love.
This is what first love is.
First love has pure intentions and isn’t selfish, self seeking and people pleasing. There is this great enthusiasm that is found in our first love. To go back to your first love simply means to go back to loving God with pure intentions and innocence. Rekindle the fire he set in you when you first met him and let it all be about him and not you. Do the things you use to do at first when you had pure intentions, when it was all about God and not what you will gain. When you wanted to be in his presence just to encounter him, not for the prophecy or display of gift.
Let’s examine our hearts and go back to where we have fallen. We need a revival. Listen to what the spirit is saying, dear believer.
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