Revelation 2:4-5
(NIV)
You have forsaken
your first love. Remember the height
from which you have fallen! Repent and
do the things you did at first.
Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation describe seven
churches in Asia Minor. Not only were
these actual churches in the first century, but many Bible scholars believe
that these churches represent the progression or stage of the Christian church
from its beginning to today (with the seventh church, the church of Loadicea,
being the lukewarm, materialistic, and complacent church that some scholars
believe describes the 20th-21st century church).
There is not room in this devotional to outline the
commendation, criticism, counsel, command, and characteristic of each church
plus how each church in Rev 2-3 teaches something about Jesus and teaches
something about suffering. The first
church, the Church at Ephesus, is described in this passage as a church that
has “forsaken” or left their first love.
This describes many Christian people, people who initially had such
fervency for their faith and service to the Lord, but over time such fervency
and faith deteriorated. Pastor Greg
Laurie preached a great message on this passage, emphasizing the three “R”
words of verse 5—to remember what you used to be like, what excited you
about your conversion and early Christian walk; to repent from what is
currently preventing you from returning to that former happy, lively, loving
person, and to return to or to restore the deeds that you did at
first.
How would you feel if you actually could hear the
Lord tell you to your face, “You have forsaken Me. You have fallen so far!” Think about that. None of you would ever desire to hear these
words. Yet, hearing them while you are
still alive and healthy gives you a chance to do something about it. So give thanks and praise for being reminded
and change your ways if, in fact, these verses apply to you. What if you did nothing and then heard these
words on Judgment Day? There would be
nothing that you could do. How horrible
that scenario would be. Don’t give it a
chance to happen.
These verses not only apply to Christian
individuals, but also apply to marriages.
With divorce rates as high as they are, how far couples have fallen from
when they first fell in love and how they felt for one another on their wedding
day. If your marriage is stumbling or in
real trouble, follow the “remember—repent—return/restore” principles. It takes great humility, strength, and
courage to admit that your marriage is described here and to do something
positive to restore it.
May the Lord use these verses if they apply to you
to help you return to your first love—to follow and to obey the Lord God
through His Son Jesus Christ.
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