Think About It

Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.
John 13:34-35 The Message

Do you remember when you first turned your life over to Jesus and asked Him into your life? Do you remember how it felt? When was the last time you stopped and thought about that? Do you remember how you loved everyone and wanted them to have what you had found? Do you remember the compassion you felt for those who did not know Him? Do you remember how fervently you prayed? How you couldn't get enough of His Word? When you weren't reading your Bible, you were probably reading books written about the Bible or telling someone about it. Do you remember?

What's changed?

We fool ourselves into thinking that once a Christian becomes a little mature; it's only natural and right that they should calm down. Maybe it's the style of it - more wisdom instead of just zeal - but let's not confuse complacency for maturity and wisdom.

When did we stop telling people about Jesus?
When we got rejected a few times? Jesus was rejected.
When someone made fun of us? Jesus was mocked.
When we got hurt? Isaiah 53:3 reads Jesus was a man of sorrows.
When someone left us? Jesus was abandoned by all.
When someone we loved died?

Somehow, we think these things justify our actions. In the same way I loved you...

What does the Lord have to say about all that? Revelation 2:2-3, the Lord writing to the church at Ephesus - remember, we're in the book of Revelation here, “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." Hmmm, sounds like good Christians, doesn't it? He goes on in verse 4. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!" And then the kicker - verse 5 - "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."

So, I'll ask again. Do you remember when you first turned your life over to Jesus and asked Him into your life? Do you remember how it felt? When was the last time you stopped and thought about that? Do you remember how you loved everyone and wanted them to have what you had found? Do you remember the compassion you felt for those who did not know Him? Do you remember how fervently you prayed? How you couldn't get enough of His Word? When you weren't reading your Bible, you were telling someone about it or probably reading books written about the Bible.

Do you remember?

Prayer:

Father,
            Take us back to our first love. Forgive us for leaving it in the first place. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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

Fall Into Place

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.

Revelation 2:2-4 NKJV

Do you remember what it felt like when you first fell in love? Oh, how precious and sweet it was! Hours on the phone, neither wanting to say good night. Who needed sleep? You had love. Counting the hours till you could see each other, holding hands, saying nothing, saying everything. Celebrating one-month anniversaries of the day you met, your first date. You were content just to breathe the same air in close proximity. He could do no wrong. She was just perfect. NOTHING interfered with your time together!  Everything else faded into nothingness when you were together...

Then you had kids. You both work. Your obligations, their obligations, kids' sports and activities, commitments, bills to pay. College funds. Retirement accounts. Now you're begging for some sleep... So many people and things to take care of - there's just not enough time...

There are couples who do it, though. They pull it off because they remember what that first love was all about and they make it their priority. And because they do, the rest of it works. That's what Christ is saying in our Promise for Today. You're taking care of all the tasks and commitments, but you don't make Me your priority. You don't make time for Me. You left your first love. 

Have you? Take the time. MAKE the time. Everything else will fall into place. The right place.

Prayer:

Father,

          In the words of Andraé Crouch's song of prayer*, Take us back to the place where we first received You. Take us back to the place where we first believed. We feel that we're so far from You, Lord, but still we hear You calling. Those simple things that we once knew - their memories keep drawing us. We must confess, Lord, we've been blessed, but yet our souls are not satisfied. Renew our faith, restore our joy, and dry our weeping eyes. We've tried so hard to make it all alone, but we need Your help just to make it home. Take us back, Father, to our first love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

*Take Me Back by Andraé Crouch.