Finding Lost Love
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.’” – Revelation 2:1-4 NKJV.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. – John 15:4-5 NKJV.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. – John 15:7 NKJV.
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:9-12 NKJV.
On the History Channel about a week ago (2010) there was a story about a couple being trapped in a cave for a few days. They came close to dying while inside the cave. The even more interesting part of this story was that this was a first date for the couple! Just 24-hours after their rescue they announced their engagement, and they have now been married more than 40 years and are still very much in love. One other thing they shared, was that they have not been back inside of a cave since their rescue.
How is your spiritual love life? Are you still in love with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? That is a good question to ask ourselves from time to time. The church at Ephesus had a problem with their spiritual love life. They had lost it. Now the church at Ephesus was not a bad church, because Jesus does commend them for not bearing with evil or false prophets. He commends them for not being weary in laboring in the Name of Jesus.
The Ephesus problem is a problem, we in the modern church face frequently. We are busy people, our doctrine is correct, we are against evil, and we continue to labor in teaching, preaching, and sharing Jesus. Along the way somehow, we like the Ephesians fell out of love with our Lord. How does it happen? It happens when we work for the Lord, but no longer spend time with the Lord. We no longer truly “abide” in Him.
There we are, loveless people who are working hard for the Lord. How do we find our lost love, return to our first love? How did the couple trapped in the cave find love? They spent time together. That is how we can fall in love with our Lord once again as well. The more time that we spend with Jesus, the more we “abide” in Him, the more love we will have for Him. How do we do that? We must do what we know to do. We must spend time with Him in prayer. We must spend time with Him in the Bible, and we must spend time with Him by assembling with other believers, i.e. go to church.
Your love will not instantaneously return but it will return if you “abide” in Him.
(How is your spiritual love life? Are you still in love with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?)