Your First Love

Many believers in Ephesus worked hard. They were diligent and vigilant about their faith and alert for false teachers. But in spite of this praise, Jesus revealed that He was disappointed with them. Why?

Because Jesus was concerned about their attitudes, the condition of their hearts, their priorities, and commitments. In particular, He was concerned that they had “left [their] first love.” To Him, that love was far more important than all their actions and accomplishments.

Jesus had stressed the importance of love when He taught that the greatest commandment is loving God with our entire being (Matthew 22:37). The essence of the Gospel is “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). And “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

What happened to these Ephesians can happen to any of us. The initial love that drew us to Jesus can fade with the passing of time. We become busy. Our schedules can be filled with too much activity, even good activity such as church and Bible studies. We can find ourselves busy doing work for the Lord, but failing to develop our relationship with Him.

Make this a day to focus on your personal relationship with Jesus. That relationship with Him is more important than anything you might do for Him. Spend time with Him. Talk with Him. Give Him first place in your life.