From His Heart Daily Devotional 22 February 2022
BEWARE OF LOSING YOUR FIRST LOVE
“But this is what I have against you: you do not love Me as you did at first.” Revelation 2:4 GNB
The church in Ephesus seemed to be doing well. All would have said it was a great church, a model church, a church on the move for God. But Jesus had a problem with the church. The people had lost their passionate love for Him. They were doing lots of good things, but they were missing the most important thing: a growing love for Jesus.
Did you know that it is easy to lose your first love? It is easy to start out so in love and on fire for Jesus … and then lose that fire and passion. Could that be true of you? If Jesus evaluated your heart for Him today, would He say to you, “You do not love Me now as you did at first.”
TEST YOURSELF
When I was in college, my Bible study teacher, David Ferguson, gave us a “heart check” to see if we were losing our first love. Let me warn you, these statements are convicting.
I am in danger of losing my first love when…
1. I delight more in someone else than I do Jesus.
2. My soul does not long for fellowship with God and God alone.
3. My thoughts during leisure moments are not on God.
4. I view the commands of God as restrictions on my life and my fun.
5. I inwardly strive for the acclaim of man rather than God.
6. I fail to make Christ known for fear of rejection.
7. I refuse to give up questionable activities.
8. I am unwilling to forgive another.
9. I become complacent of sin around me.
(I told you these statements were convicting.) So what do you do if you are guilty of losing your first love? Two things: Remember and repent.
Jesus told the church at Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Rev. 2:5). Remember that it is all about loving Him. Remember how much He loves you. Remember how He died for you – “while He was on the cross, you were on His mind.” Remember how it used to be with you and Jesus. And repent for letting other things take first place in your heart. Turn from your selfishness and self-centeredness and start seeking the Lord like you used to … with newness, freshness, and tremendous gratitude for His love and grace.
Remember, “we love, because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). Fill your heart everyday with His great love for you, and you will grow in your love for Him.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
