Keeping Your First Love

A great woman once said, “The only love Jesus Christ can receive is first love”. In Revelation 2:4, the Lord confronts the Church of Ephesus about abandoning this love. This is a sobering thought, as this community of believers seemed, on paper, to be not too bad... They were, according to verses 2 and 3, persevering in trial, hated evil, and even had a sound and righteous doctrine! While these things are vital and important for the body of Christ, in the eyes of the Lord, there is one essential quality we must protect: our heart burning with affection for Jesus.

Remember those first weeks, even months, of your conversion. Christ alone was the object of your gaze, and you wanted to please Him alone! A childlike excitement animated you as He seemed to speak to you at all times and by any means! When you listened to a hymn, warm tears rolled down your cheeks quite naturally as your heart burned with love for Him. When you went to worship, your hunger and thirst for God were synonymous with joy. In your personal Bible reading, every word nourished you and was extremely delicious for your spirit.

These, dear friend, are manifestations of first love. A child's love. An innocent love. A love that desires only Christ and Christ alone. A love that allows us to stay with Him both on the mount of transfiguration, when He is clothed in glory, and on the mount of crucifixion, when He suffers intensely.

God is looking for lovers who are willing to do whatever it takes to nurture and keep that fire of affection for Him. Do you want to join the company of the wise virgins who, at the coming of their Bridegroom, had enough oil to go out and meet Him?

Ask the Lord to rekindle that first love in your heart, and to help you “return to your first works” quite simply by His grace.

Listen to this song as you are coming back to your first love: "First Love- Josie Buchanan" | Moment

Jean-Luc Trachsel