Repenting of Losing Our First Love
Friday, March 20, 2020“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘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, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where 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 you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ - Revelation 2:1-7 (ESV)
In a time of uncertainty and crises, the Christian’s natural response is to seek God to make sure everything about his life is pleasing to Him. This is needed because through the years it can be easy for Christians to drift away from their full devotion to Jesus Christ. It’s striking that within a few years of the establishment of the church in the city of Ephesus, the Christians, even though commended for their rejection of heresy, had grown cool toward God. Jesus tells them plainly what they need to do, and the current American church should take heed as well.
First of all, there is the command to “remember.” It’s worth remembering the devotion and godliness of the Christians during the great revivals of American history. These Christians sought Him energetically each day and sacrificed greatly for causes such as the abolition of slavery, the establishment of colleges, and poverty relief. Remembering the godly devotion and action from the past can help aright wandering lifestyles.
Second is the command to “repent.” This means to take note of the current Christian mindset and to apologize to God on behalf of oneself and the entire American church. God loves it when His people repent! Sincerely expressing to God the wrongfulness of one’s actions is extremely powerful.
The third is to “do the works you did at first.” Many are very zealous when first coming to Christ, and radically change their lives, but then can later compromise and treat some things casually that they should be very diligent about. The solution is to snap to attention and to return to patterns of complete consecration and devotion to Jesus Christ in all matters.
May the Lord give all of us in American the faith and strength to regain our first love for our Savior who has done so much for us! He deserves our full devotion and all honor and praise.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Matt Bennett, Founder and CEO of Christian Union
