Recently, I was reading in the book of Revelation and I came across some verses that really struck my heart. The verses I read were in Revelation chapter 2:2-5. In these verses, Jesus, through His revelation to John, begins to address the church at Ephesus. Jesus says:
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
When I read these words return to your first love, I was beyond moved, matter of fact, I was wrecked and undone at the thought of the heartbreak of God when we just “go through the motions”. Going through the motions of serving God without love is exhausting. Without putting our relationship with God first, we will become drained and depleted. You can do all the “religious” things you could think of to try to exhibit your devotion to Him, but without putting on love it means nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 addresses this issue.
“If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Love is the superior way! But in order to show love to others, we must return to our first love! We must focus on our relationship with God. Spending time with Him through reading scripture, prayer and having an open, real, dialogue with Him. This is crucial.
He is so good! He wants to develop a personal relationship with each one of us. He is not some far away God who watches us without intervening in our lives. He molds us, heals us, helps us and grows us.
If you have been going through the motions and feeling empty, it is time to come back to the first love of Jesus. He is waiting with open arms. He is worthy of trusting and He is so faithful.
And when I am aware of my distance from Him, He doesn’t push me away. He sits down with me and draws me closer to Him. His forgiveness is overwhelming, and His mercy is more! I pray that if you have strayed from your first love and are just going through the motions, that you will see that you can only be truly satisfied when you return to Him. If you have never made a decision to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then today is a good day to do that, we aren’t promised tomorrow. Lean into the loving and forgiving arms of Jesus and see that He is everything you have been searching for!
Amanda Patterson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#amandapattersonblogs
