Rekindling Your First Love with Jesus: A Lesson from Revelation

When was the last time you felt truly passionate about your relationship with Jesus? Just like human relationships can grow stale over time, our spiritual connection with God can sometimes lose its initial spark and fervor.

What Does It Mean to Lose Your First Love?

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus addresses the church of Ephesus with a powerful message that still resonates today: “But here’s something I hold against you. You have turned away from the love you had at first.” This wasn’t just about emotions – it was about a fundamental shift in their relationship with God.

How Do We Recognize When We’ve Fallen?

Just as a simple goodnight kiss can fade from a marriage routine, our spiritual habits can slowly disappear without us even noticing. The signs might include:

• Prayer becoming more mechanical than meaningful

• Bible reading feeling like a chore

• Worship becoming routine rather than heartfelt

• Serving God out of duty rather than devotion

What Does Jesus Tell Us to Do About It?

Jesus provides a three-step solution in Revelation:

• Think about how far you’ve fallen

• Turn away from your sins

• Do the things you did at first

Why Going Back to “First Love” Actions Matters

Notice that Jesus doesn’t ask us to recreate the emotional high of our early faith. Instead, He instructs us to return to the actions and practices that characterized our early relationship with Him. This might mean:

• Returning to earnest, unhurried prayer

• Reading Scripture with fresh eyes

• Worshiping without distraction

• Serving with joy and enthusiasm

How Can We Practically Return to Our First Love?

Consider these practical steps:

• Put away distractions (especially phones) during prayer time

• Pray until you fall asleep, just like you might have done when first saved

• Return to the spiritual disciplines that once excited you

• Create intentional moments for connection with God

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to identify and reinstate one “first love” practice you’ve lost along the way. Ask yourself:

• What spiritual practice did I once cherish that I’ve let slip away?

• What distractions or excuses am I allowing to come between me and God?

• How can I intentionally create space for rekindling my relationship with Jesus?

Remember, just as in human relationships, love for God needs intentional nurturing. The good news is that He’s always ready to meet us when we turn back to Him. Don’t let your spiritual CPAP mask (whatever that might be in your life) keep you from expressing your love for God.

Take time this week to “do the things you did at first” and watch how God begins to rekindle that first love in your heart.