Left Your First Love

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent.

The church at Ephesus left their love and excitement they had when they first became a Christian. They succumbed to the natural tendency of letting their new faith in Jesus become commonplace. The Ephesians church loved Jesus, but the excitement and enthusiasm was gone and they were working in the church as a routine duty. They no longer felt the Holy Spirit leading them as they did when they first accepted Jesus as their Savior.

Jesus said, "Repent or I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place.” Jesus is saying repent so you will regain the same love and excitement that you had when you first received Jesus as Savior.

Many churches today are going through the motion of "church". Doing everything they need to do to run a smooth church and add new members. But, they do not have revival services or invite the church members to give their life to Jesus and become born again Christians. Jesus says, "If you do not come back to the first love and excitement you had when you first became a born again Christian, I will remove your lamp stand. This means the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be removed from the church. Jesus is asking the church to repent and come back to their first love.