Return to First Love: Repeating the Works That Remain
Listen to:
“So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first.” — Revelation 2:5a (NCV)
The Church in Ephesus: A Model with a Missing Heart
The church in Ephesus was impressive.
They had good doctrine — they knew the truth of God’s Word.
They had strong endurance — they didn’t give up under pressure.
They had zero tolerance for sin — they didn’t allow false teachings to spread.
But despite all of this, Jesus had a complaint:
“You have lost your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)
Lesson: It’s not enough to do the right things. If love for God fades, even the best actions become empty.
The Danger of Fading Passion
Jesus didn’t criticize the Ephesians for their works—He praised them for those. What He addressed was the why behind those works. They had grown tired and dry. Their actions had become mechanical.
They were doing all the right things with a heart that had grown cold.
The “fire” they once had was no longer burning brightly.
Jesus didn’t tell them to learn something new. He didn’t ask them to change their methods. He simply said: “Remember where you were before you fell. Do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5)
Lesson: Passion for God is the foundation for every act of service. Without love, even the best works are lifeless.
The Call to Return: Going Back to the Basics
Jesus didn’t ask the church to be more religious. He didn’t demand that they “do more.” He called them to return to the basics.
Time with God — not as a checklist, but a conversation.
Worship without distraction — putting aside the noise to focus solely on God.
Sharing your testimony — rekindling the excitement of salvation.
Loving His Word — letting the Bible speak to your heart again, with fresh eyes.
Lesson: The key to spiritual renewal is not new experiences, but going back to the basics with a renewed heart.
The Difference Between Religion and Revival
Religion is when we do all the right things but our hearts aren’t in it. We go through the motions, but there’s no fire in our souls.
Revival, on the other hand, happens when our hearts are filled with love for God once again. We return to Him with a renewed passion, and everything we do flows from that love.
Experience without love becomes religion.
Love without experience becomes revival.
Lesson: Choose love over ritual. When we love God deeply, the works we do will flow from that love, and revival will follow.
Reigniting First Love
So, how do we reignite our first love? We repeat the works that remain—those initial acts of love and devotion.
Spend time with God: Set aside distractions, get quiet, and let God speak to your heart again.
Worship deeply: Not just in song, but with a heart that seeks to glorify Him in all things.
Share your testimony: Remember how you were saved and share that joy with others.
Love His Word: Let Scripture become alive again—don’t just read it, but treasure it.
Lesson: Going back to the basics isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a step toward spiritual strength.
Closing Thought
God doesn’t just want our actions—He wants our hearts. When our love for Him fades, everything else begins to lose its meaning. But when we return to our first love, everything changes.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve allowed my love for You to fade. I want to return to the passion I had when I first believed. Reignite my heart with a fresh love for You. Help me to return to the basics—spending time with You, worshiping without distraction, sharing my testimony, and loving Your Word. Let my love for You fuel every action, and bring revival to my soul. Amen.