It left its first love

It was a church with an incredibly rich history.  Founded by the apostle Paul along with Priscilla and Aquilla, it was first pastored by Timothy.  And Jesus’ beloved disciple John was probably its “Pastor Emeritus.”  It was the recipient of a letter from the apostle Paul that was rich in elegance and theology (and her pastor, Timothy, received two additional letters from him).  The church itself served prominently in the first century — it was perhaps “the first among the first churches.”

And it existed in a rich world.  It was the residence of the Roman governor and three major highways made their way through town.  It was a port city and a banking and trade center.  Yet for all of its wealth, the church in Ephesus fell prey to a distracting temptation.

It left its first love.

To look at the church, this temptation was hardly noticeable.  To look at the external activity of the church, it would have been impossible to see the reality of its spiritual condition.  The Ephesians were fervent for the gospel and spiritual purity and they worked hard to preserve both.  But over time, they sacrificed the important on the altar of the urgent.  They labored for God but they no longer loved God.

In fact Christ’s condemnation of them is very clear.  They did not simply “lose” their love.  They left it.  The Ephesians were not apathetic to God and His work (that was the Laodicean problem; cf. Rev. 3:14ff).  They simply failed to apply the truth of Scripture to their hearts.  They were holding to orthodoxy (2:2) without a heart of personal devotion.

Have you found yourself in a similar position?  Are you the first to volunteer for every need at your church?  Are you the first to arrive at a function and the last to leave?  Are you overwhelmed by the needs and burdens of the world?  Do you feel increasingly empty in spite of your service?  When God asks “Do you love me?” (Jn. 21:15), are you unsure of your response?

There is an opportunity to remove yourself from this treadmill — Christ Himself offers the solution:  remember, repent, and return.

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first…” (Rev. 2:5).

These three R’s add up to this:  Remember the passion that you had for Christ when you began walking with Him in earnestness.  Repent by confessing and receiving forgiveness for the sins of self-reliance and the forgetfulness of God.  And then return to the first things:  cultivate your heart for God.  Fall in love with Him again.  Renew your passion for Him.  And then serve Him out of that love.

A. W. Tozer has said it well:  “If we understand our first and sole duty to consist of loving God supremely and loving everyone, even our enemies, for God’s dear sake, then we can enjoy spiritual tranquility in every circumstance.”