“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” (Revelation 2:4-5a KJV)

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5a NIV)

When Jesus is asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (Mark 12:28b) His response was to say, “’The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mark 12:29-30) In this time of debate with the Sadducees and the Pharisees, Jesus would also say, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:39-40)

Jesus would later add this command to the Disciples as He prepared to go to the cross. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) In His teaching, Jesus would emphasis the primary importance of loving God first. With this love we can now love our neighbor and then specifically those in His church. If we don’t love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then we have trouble loving our neighbors and our fellow believers.

In the first letter to the Seven Churches in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we hear God say, “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first,” “thy first love.“ (Revelation 2:4 NIV, KJV) On the outside you would think this church was what a church should be. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” (Revelation 2:2-3) As with David, when God chose him to be king, He said to Samuel, “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Thus, the command to love God will all of your heart.

When we look in our lives and the Holy Spirit shows us our sin, then we are to repent. “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5) This is His calling to His people. At the dedication of the Temple, the people were reminded when God saw their sin, He would bring judgment. When He did, they were to return to Him. “. . .if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

When our love for the things of God have taken the place of our love of God, then we need to repent. When we walk with the Living Word of God, He is always at work to show us how to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength holding on to our first love.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block