Return to your true Love
"God has always been after something far greater. He wants a love relationship with you greater than all other relationships in your life..."
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:4)
In Revelation 2:4, the church in Ephesus was rebuked for abandoning their love for Christ. This is in stark contrast to what Paul had said about this same church 35 years earlier. You might remember in Ephesians 1:15-16 that Paul said he “never stopped giving thanks” because of the “faith and love” that marked the Ephesian church. A generation later and the church had become cold and loveless. One generation. Yes, they were committed to doctrine to be sure. Of course, they were hard workers. Yes, they were great at correctly identifying false teaching. But they had lost their true love for God. And when that happens, nothing else matters (1 Corinthians 13). They were lacking in deep devotion and intimacy with Christ. This pitfall the church has been falling into since it began.
God is always after a true love. He does not call us to mere commandments, motions, church services, work, offerings, and such. He calls us to love Him; and to love Him above all else. Jesus asked Peter the question "do you love me?" He is asking you and I the same question today.
I challenge you truly look yourself in the mirror today and ask – “do I love my Heavenly Father? Do I truly love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ like I did at first?” Correct doctrine and service is enough. It will never be enough. God has always been after something far greater. He wants a love relationship with you greater than all other relationships in your life. What an incredible truth. If you have wavered in any way, return to the love you had at first. Return to loving God above all else. Go to sleep thinking about Him. Wake up thinking about Him. Be infatuated with Him in such a way that He dominates your thoughts, rules your heart, and ultimately flows out of you with a deep and sincere love for others.
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