Have we left our first love? Remember, remember your first love. According to John MacArthur in “Christ’s Call to Reform the Church” – Christ is our first love.
Loveless Ephesus
“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. Rev 2:1-4
In Chapter 3 in his book, MacArthur labels Ephesus the Loveless Church. They have forgotten their love for Christ. As evidence, he cites Matt 22:36-38,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
And John 14:21, 23,
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
Note that the Bible correlates loving Christ with keeping His Word. But it isn’t just that we love Christ because we keep His Word. Rather it is also that we keep Christ’s Word because we love Him.
Remember, Remember, Remember
I well remember when I finally left the New Age. Providentially, I found a book which led me back to the real Jesus in a New Age bookshop. God found me where I was and I recall the joy vividly!
And yet the battle continues. In Ephesians 6, Paul reminds us to be vigilant about Spiritual Warfare. Satan constantly attacks believers in order to derail their effectiveness and joy, just like he did with the Church at Ephesus.
Sometimes God (for His own reasons) even allows us to sink down to the valleys. We must remember that He is in control, and that He is faithful and true. None of us is able to maintain our love of Christ easily. Remember that He loves us more than our sins.
If we feel we’ve fallen back from our first love, MacArthur gives us remembering suggestions:
Remember, the first days of our new lives in Christ; Remember the glorious heights of new-found freedom from sin; Remember your joy in the Lord and the gratefulness of your redemption; Remember your love for God’s people and hunger for His Word; Remember the Spirit’s illuminating work and the transformation of your heart, will and mind; Remember the comfort of biblical assurance.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Maranatha!
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