In Part One of this post, we spoke about the end times, how Jesus will come back, what happens when He comes back, and, finally, why whether or not we have lost our First Love for Jesus matters.

I have realized that I have lost my First Love for Jesus… the fire that once burned in me to love Jesus Christ, and the Chibok girls He made, is now much less bright. This is important because of what Jesus warned the church in Ephesus about:

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
(Revelation 2:5, NIV)

Christ warns the church in Ephesus that their lampstand will be removed from its place—that, if they do not turn back to Him as their First Love, their effectiveness as a church will be removed.

Like the Church in Ephesus, our First Love for Jesus has a crucial impact on the effectiveness of our lives for Christ.

Any of us are just as susceptible to losing our First Love for Jesus. How can this Love be lost?

I know that, at least for me, my First Love for Christ wanes when I lose sight of the gift of salvation He has given me. When I feel or think as though I need to rely on my own works to save me, any service I am led to do for Christ loses its fervor, and feels more like a burden. Without keeping in mind that Jesus does not need me, but rather has given me all I need to spend eternity with Him, any form of ministry or good works becomes merely being busy and legalistic—loveless.

This is not the only way to lose your First Love for Christ. Have you become a person who knows everything there is to know about Christ, but have lost your fervor for Him in the process? Are you seeking and worshipping other people or things instead of Him? Anything from idolatry to apathy can cause us the light that once burned within us for Christ to be nearly extinguished. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to search our hearts and ask Jesus the question, “How did I get to this place? What has caused my First Love to burn out?” As you ask these questions, I am sure that He will make your heart’s condition—and the reason for it—clear.

Consider, Repent, Repeat

No matter how you got to losing your First Love for Christ, Revelation 2:5 also speaks of how to return back. This is what it says:

1. “Consider how far you have fallen!” Revelation 2:5 speaks about remembering where you once were with Christ. Do you remember the precious closeness you once had with Him? The sweetness and profoundness of realizing that He died for you, spurring a deep gratefulness and profound zealousness in your heart? Think back—consider—how it was when you had your First Love with Jesus, and all of the things you did as a byproduct of that sweet Love.

2. “Repent.” It is not enough to merely remembering your First Love with Jesus… you must make the choice, no matter how you might feel, to repent—“turn around”—and stop walking the way you have been walking. Has your heart been worshipping someone or something else than Christ? Put that idolatry away forever. Whatever is keeping you from burning with zeal for Jesus needs to be done completely away with.
   If you feel as though the things you need to put down are too significant, remember the significant sacrifice Jesus Christ made for you, on the cross. Pray that Jesus would help you to put down whatever keeps you from Him; He will be faithful to honor and help you in your request! Asking for help from trusted, Godly Christians of the same gender can also help you to find victory over what you’re dealing with, as well.

3. “Do the things you did at first.” This part of Revelation 2:5 highlights acting upon the choice of repentance you have made. While we all fail and fall short from time to time, our choices to repent should be followed by practical steps toward Jesus and away from our sin. As David Jeremiah wisely says in his commentary of this passage, “Feelings follow actions, not vice versa. Where the will goes, the heart follows.”¹ Think about it: Does a person fall more in love with their significant other just by saying they love them, but never actually going back and doing things that spur on that Love (in a date, for example)? No! Similarly, many people think that repentance will come only when we feel a different way; but, throughout the Word, Jesus connects loving Him—something anyone can say—to the action of obeying Him (John 14:15). No matter how you feel, when you do the things you did at first, you will return to your First Love.

As a new Believer—or a Believer who has once again remembered and turned back to their First Love—the fervency, zeal, and close Love with Jesus is something that nothing can be compared to. And so, I ask you: Where are you at with Jesus? How can you return back to your First Love? After all, no matter how mature you are in your Christian walk, we all need to return in some way, shape, or form to simply loving Jesus. I encourage you today to return back to that simple, beautiful, transformative Love; for there is truly nothing like it.

1 Jeremiah, David. Jeremiah Study Bible: What It Says. What It Means. What It Means for You.Worthy Publishers, 2013.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Do you know Jesus?

The Love of God is a beautiful, beautiful thing. It is precious to know and understand something so simple, and yet so profound: Jesus Loves me, and He proved it by His death on the cross, and resurrection.

If you are wondering today about your worth, or if you feel as if no one loves you, I hope and pray that you would look to the cross, and reflect upon the One who hung on it, for you and for me. Learn more about the amazing, reckless Love of Jesus, here.

Please pray for (you can find the prayer sheet for this post, here):

• The Chibok girls, and Leah Sharibu. You can find their names and pictures, here.
• The worldwide Church. We need to pray for revival in these last days!
• For the church in Nigeria. Please pray that a biblical revival would occur!

Thank you for all your prayers!!! May our Love for Jesus grow, and may He come back, soon.