My First Love

"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
(Rev 2:2-4)

Okay, so I took just a little liberty with the title of this blog. Perhaps it caught your eye. One can not help but think of fairy tale endings and Hollywood movies when you mention your first love. But what about your everyday walk with the one who created you? How exactly does your first love come into play there?

While I was preparing for our upcoming D-Now sessions, I was captured by the verses above. I found myself described more by the first couple of verses than someone who had been captivated and was enthralled by my first love. I have to wonder how many people today are caught in the same situation. Maybe I need an attitude adjustment.

You see, I find myself toiling for Christ all the time. I am constantly reading and studying His word, hoping to find myself as one approved for every good work. But why? I am afraid that this is where I have slipped recently. Could it be that I have allowed a sense of obligation to creep into my walk? I think I have and I need to get rid of it.

Scripture has an amazing quality about it. It is able to capture three or more different concepts within one set of words and convey it to the reader at different times when needed. When I read the above passage I can not help but think that I have been toiling patiently hoping to endure until the end. Please note that the church of Ephesus was not condemned for their work. All of the things that they were doing were good things.

No, it was their attitude that was wrong. The words capture it perfectly as I illustrated above. All the theology and study is meaningless if we have forgotten the reason behind it. Our first love. If we remember that love then we will not find oursleves toiling anymore. Nor will we be patiently enduring.

If we love Him, we will expectantly be looking for Him in all that we do. We will want to learn more about Him at every chance we can get. We will fill our conversations with Him because we are in love. Our goal will become to try and please Him because we love Him, not simple obedience out of fear and reverence. We will want to share our days with Him and confide in Him all of our hopes and fears. I have been lacking this of late.

Do me a favor if you see me slipping. If you see me weary and heavy laden, remind me of my first love.


Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Mat 11:28-30)