Return to Me

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Revelation 2:2-5 NLT

Have you ever fallen in love? Do you remember what it was like at the beginning? You couldn't wait to see them. Your heart would leap when the phone rang just thinking that it might be them. Everything they did, everything they said, it was all great, nearly perfect. They consumed your thoughts and probably your conversations as you told others about them. You wanted to know everything about them. You just wanted to be where they were at all times, and probably counted the hours until you would see them again. And then you were content to just be breathing the same air... Do you remember that? 

Now, it's been a while. There's a certain comfort in being together for a long time, but there's also a complacency that can slip in if we're not careful. We get busy with other things in life. And there's laundry and housework and the nitty-gritty of life. Does any of that sound familiar? We may start to take their love for granted - that they will always be there. Are we paying attention? 

I think that is exactly what Jesus is talking about in our Scripture passage for today. 

Remember when you first got saved? You couldn't get enough of Him! Couldn't wait to get to church. Couldn't wait to read His Word. Spend time in His presence. Talk to Him. Read everything you could get your hands on that gave you more insight into being a better Christian. Now, it's been a while... 

I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for letting our priorities get out of whack. We never want to take our salvation for granted. Help us to recognize the difference between confidence and complacency when it comes to our relationship with You. Help us to love one another as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen