You Don’t Love Me As You Did At First

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. Revelation 2:2-5

EACH OF THE LETTERS John wrote down for the seven churches in Asia addressed their faithfulness to Christ in the midst of a threatening pagan culture. Two of the seven churches received only commendations, no criticisms, from Jesus. One of the churches received only criticism and no commendation. But four of the churches got mixed reviews. Jesus told four of them that he had something against them —including the church in Ephesus.

The church in Ephesus was commended for their hard work and patient endurance. But there was a significant problem: They simply didn’t love Jesus in the way they once did. So Jesus called them to turn back to him and live for him. He called them to declare his gospel boldly like they did when they first came to him.

Sometimes we as parents can get this same kind of wake-up call from our own kids. We long and pray for them to take hold of Christ and become passionate about him. And then they do! They get excited about reading their Bibles and being with other believers to worship. Their enthusiasm can challenge us to evaluate our own passion for Christ. They want us to be as excited as they are about serving Jesus, even if it takes us out of our comfort zone.

Perhaps this is one of many ways the Lord uses our children to sanctify us as parents. Sometimes their fresh and passionate love for Jesus reminds us of the fresh and passionate love for Jesus we once had that over the years may have waned.

Lord, I want to love you in the way I did when our love was new. How can I pray for ________ to love Christ if my love for you has grown cold? Stir in me fresh passion for you as I do the things I did when I first began this life in you.