December 10

Your First Love

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 139:1-6 | Amos 1:1-3:15 | Revelation 2:1-17 | Proverbs 29:19-20

Today’s Scripture Focus: Revelation 2

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. [4] Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love (Revelation 2:3-4 NIV).

The Ephesian church was doing many things right. For the most part, they receive words of praise as Christ evaluates their progress. They were working hard, and persevering in the faith. They dealt with false teachers in the proper manner. They showed their perseverance by remaining true to the faith while enduring hardships because they were Christians.

Yet there was one glaring fault in the Ephesian church. They had lost their first love.

It’s easy to do. We do the right things, but it becomes more of a ritual rather than a relationship. We go through the motions, but have lost the intensity of feeling and devotion we had at first.

Christianity is more than just “going through the motions.” It is an intimate relationship with one who loves you with an everlasting love.

Take the time to cherish your relationship with Christ. Spend time “abiding” in his love- meditating on how much he loves you. Believe it. Receive it. Soak in it. Spend time praising and adoring Christ. Tell him how much you love Him. Demonstrate it through your actions by loving obedience and by loving others. As he pours out his love in your heart and as you express it back in heartfelt praise, the love is rekindled and grows.

Father, pour out your love into my heart. Let me experience again the height, the breadth, the depth and the length of this love, this love that surpasses knowledge. As I abide in your love, enable me to express that love back to you and to others. Restore to me that first love. Amen.