Scripture Text: Revelation 2:1–7
But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Revelation 2:4 (HCSB)
A wife once asked her husband, “What do you think the Bible means when it says that Ezekiel’s wife was ‘the desire of his eyes’? Looking at her tenderly, he answered, “I think it means that every time he saw her, Ezekiel experienced the same thrill he felt when he first saw her on their wedding day!”
Jesus also used the language of love to speak of His relationship with the church of Ephesus. Only in this case, Jesus issued a reproof. Instead of holding on to their first love, the Ephesian church had begun to slip in its devotion (v. 4). They were a stable and hardworking church. They cared about the truth and maintained a high standard of doctrine (vv. 2–3). But something was missing.
When Jesus urged them to return to their first love, He wasn’t referring only to chronology. The word first also referred to priority—what they considered most important and best. When Israel was commanded to offer the first fruits, they were required to bring God the best of what they had, not merely the first things they harvested. The believers in Ephesus obeyed Christ, but they were capable of offering Him a better love.
This rebuke also suggests that there was a weakness in their community life. Just as their love for Christ had cooled, so perhaps had their love for one another. Is it possible that their devotion to sound doctrine had blunted the affection they once felt for one another?
The solution Jesus offered was not an either/or proposition. He did not ask them to set aside doctrine in favor of love. He praised them because they hated the practices of the Nicolaitans (v. 6). But in addition to uncompromising truth, they needed love.
Reflect
1. Are you still as devoted to Jesus as you used to be?
2. Have you lost your passion for Christ, and how can you get it back?
3. What are you doing to overcome the challenges that could weaken your faith?
Remember
Maintaining a deep and genuine love for Jesus is crucial in our faith journey. The passage encourages us to not just perform religious duties but to keep a passionate, heartfelt affection for Christ at the core of our beliefs. It reminds us that while our actions matter, they should flow from a profound love for God. If we ever feel our love for Jesus diminishing, we should seek to rekindle that first love, as it's a central aspect of our devotion. This passage serves as a reminder that our faith should be rooted in a loving and fervent relationship with Christ, shaping our actions and devotion.
Let us remember to nurture and sustain a sincere, heartfelt love for Jesus as the foundation of our devotion and faith.
Read
Jeremiah 2: 2-5; Matthew 24:12-13; Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 6:10-11
Pray
Heavenly Father, I come before You with gratitude for Your love and grace. As I reflect on the message to the church in Ephesus, I acknowledge the importance of maintaining my first love for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me, dear Lord, to keep my passion and devotion burning brightly in my heart. May my faith not just be a set of actions but a profound and sincere love for You.
Guide me to recognize and overcome any distractions or challenges that may threaten my faith. Grant me the strength and wisdom to continually seek and cherish my first love for Christ. I pray that, through Your Spirit, I may be steadfast in my devotion, living out my faith in love, and ultimately receive the promises of those who overcome. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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