Do you remember what it was like when you first fell in love with Jesus? If you were like me, giving your life to Christ was a mountaintop experience. You started out so on fire, so passionate, so devoted to getting to know Him more. But over time, life happens, and if we’re not careful, it is easy to drift and lose sight of our first love. This is exactly what happened to the Church in Ephesus.

Revelation 2-3 records a series of messages from Jesus addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor. These messages were meant to encourage, correct, and guide the early Christian communities.

Commendation and Rebuke

In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus. He commends them for their hard work, their perseverance, and their stand against false teachings. They were doing all the right things and believing all the right doctrines.

Then comes the sobering reality check. Jesus also has a rebuke for them. He says, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4). Despite all their commendable actions and theological soundness, they had lost something vital: their first love, their passionate devotion to Christ.

Losing Sight of Our First Love

Pause for a moment and let that sink in. The Ephesian Christians were doctrinally sound and active in good works, but they had lost the fervent love for Christ that they had at the beginning. This is a powerful reminder that religious activity and correct doctrine are not enough if we don’t have love for Jesus at the center.

How often do we find ourselves in the same predicament? Life gets busy, duties pile up, and we spend less and less intimate time with Jesus until we’re running on spiritual fumes. We go through the motions of Christian living, checking off all the boxes of religious duty, yet somewhere along the way, we lose sight of the fervent love we once had for Christ. Our relationship with Him becomes mechanical rather than intimate, routine rather than vibrant.

Regaining Our Love for Christ

So, how do we regain our love for Christ? The answer is found in the following verses. Jesus gives them three simple steps: remember, repent, and return. He says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:5).

Remember

We need to remember what it was like when we first encountered the love of Christ. Think back to that moment when you realized the depth of His love for you. Let that memory rekindle your passion.

Spent time reflecting on the initial days of your walk with Christ, when the Gospel first took root in your life and the overwhelming sense of His love and grace you once had. Remembering helps us realign our hearts with what truly matters.

Repent

Next, we must repent. This means having a change of heart and mind. We turn away from whatever has taken priority over our love for Jesus and turn back to Him.

Acknowledge where we’ve strayed. Confess any apathy, complacency, or distractions that have hindered our love for Christ. Repentance is not just about feeling sorry; it’s about a change of mind that leads to a change in action.

Return

Finally, we are called to return to our first love. We return to those things we did when our love for Christ was fresh and vibrant. We spend time in prayer, in His Word, and in fellowship with other believers.

Re-engage with those practices that nurtured your young faith. Carve out more space to pursue Christ. Cultivate a lifestyle of intimacy with Jesus, prioritizing Him above all else.

Closing Thoughts

Christianity is not merely about following a set of rules or doctrines; it’s about a vibrant, passionate relationship with the living God. Let’s heed Jesus’ words to the church in Ephesus and ensure that our love for Him remains fervent and unwavering.

It’s not enough to go through the motions of faith or to have all our theological ducks in a row. We must keep our love for Christ burning bright. So, I encourage you to take some time today to remember, repent, and return. Let’s fan the flames of our first love and let it permeate every area of our lives.

Until next time, stay anchored in love, rooted in truth, and passionately devoted to Jesus Christ, our First Love.