The Loveless Church
“Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” ~ Revelation 2:4
Have you ever been so busy doing something for someone that you forgot to spend time with the person you were doing it for? It’s possible to be busy serving, working, and checking things off a to do list while missing what matters most. Even our walk with God can become that way. We can know the right things to do, show up faithfully, serve in ministry, and still allow our hearts to drift from the love that first drew us to Jesus when we first received His salvation.
Recently, I was thinking about why no new books have been added to the Bible in the past 2,000 years. Then I remembered that the Book of Revelation is the perfect climax and conclusion to the greatest Book ever written. These are the words of the glorified Jesus, given to the apostle John for the churches of his day and for us today. There is still as much truth in these pages that speaks directly to the Church and challenges us to make a difference in a world that desperately needs the hope of Jesus.
In today’s scripture reading, Jesus began His message to the church at Ephesus by acknowledging the things they were doing well. They worked hard, persevered through difficulties, were patient, and stood against evil. They tested those who claimed to be apostles and recognized those who were false. They had labored for Jesus’ name and hadn’t grown weary in their work. By all outward appearances, they were doing everything right. But something was missing.
Jesus said they had left their first love. Their activity had continued, but something had changed in their hearts. They were still working, but the passion that had once fueled their devotion had faded. They were doing the work, but they needed add in the love that made the work meaningful in the first place.
It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? We can become so focused on serving Jesus that we forget to spend time with Him. We can become experts at organizing events, attending meetings, planning programs, and filling volunteer schedules, yet forget that ministry is meant to flow from a heart that loves God and people. We might even get so busy preparing for church that we forget to be the Church. If we’re not careful, we can end up doing the work of the Lord without enjoying the His presence.
Jesus didn’t tell the Ephesians to simply work harder or add another program to their schedule. He told them to remember where they had fallen, repent, and return to the first works. He wanted them to recognize what had changed and take action to restore their relationship with Him. Their love for Jesus was meant to be more than a memory. It was meant to be the source of their daily lives and ministry.
The early Church gives us a beautiful picture of what happens when believers come together with hungry hearts and depend on the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, the disciples were gathered together in agreement in one place when the Holy Spirit came upon them on the Day of Pentecost. They were empowered to share the good news of Jesus, and many people came to faith. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. The Church grew as believers lived out their faith together and shared the hope they had found in Jesus.
Of course, having structure, plans, and programs isn’t wrong. We need organization to serve people well. But we must never become so focused on the schedule that we step over a hurting person to get to our next task. The person standing in front of us may be the very reason God has placed us there!
Jesus didn’t call us to stay busy for the sake of being busy. He called us to love God, love people, make disciples, and share the good news. The work of ministry must be empowered by the Holy Spirit, not just driven by our own energy, traditions, or expectations. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit, who would empower them to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). They needed His power to accomplish the work He had given them.
Here are some ways that we can return to our first love? How can we keep our hearts tender toward Jesus while serving Him faithfully?
1. Remember what first drew you to Jesus.
Revelation 2:5 begins with Jesus telling the church to remember where they had fallen. Sometimes we need to remember the joy we experienced when we first understood how much Jesus loved us, the excitement of learning His Word, or the hunger we had to spend time in His presence. Remembering isn’t about trying to recreate the past. It’s about recognizing what may have changed and allowing God to renew our love for Him today.
Here are some ways to get started:
- Make time for Jesus before you make your to do list. Start with five or ten minutes of prayer and Bible reading before the demands of the day take over. You might be surprised how much better your day begins when you talk to the One who holds it all together.
- Remember the moments when God became real to you. Write down what first drew you to Him, a Scripture that changed your life, a prayer He answered, or a time when you knew He was near.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what has changed. Have you become distracted, discouraged, disappointed, or just too busy? Be honest with God. He already knows your heart, and He invites you to come near.
2. Let love be the reason behind serving.
The Ephesians were doing many good things, but Jesus wanted their hearts back. Our service matters, but the reason behind our service matters, too. We don’t serve to earn God’s love. We serve because we’ve received His love and want others to experience it. Ministry becomes meaningful when we see people as more than tasks to complete or names on a volunteer list.
Here are some ways to get started:
- Look for the person, not just the task. When you arrive at church, take time to notice who might be hurting, sitting alone, or needing encouragement. Most of the time the greatest ministry moment of the day won’t be on the schedule.
- Serve from a heart of gratitude. Before beginning a ministry assignment, take a moment to thank Jesus for loving you and giving you the opportunity to serve. Let gratitude change the way you approach the work.
- Choose one intentional act of love each day. Encourage someone, pray with a friend, check on a neighbor, or offer help without expecting anything in return. Small acts of love can make a lasting difference.
3. Depend on the Holy Spirit instead of relying only on your own strength.
Jesus promised His disciples power through the Holy Spirit so they could be His witnesses. We need that same dependence on Him today. We can have the best plans, the most organized schedules, and enough coffee to fuel an entire committee, but none of those things can replace the power and direction of the Holy Spirit!
Here are some ways to get started:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you daily. If you’ve never received the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit, ask God to lead you and help you understand His promises through Scripture and prayer. If you’ve walked with Him for years, you can still ask Him to renew your strength and deepen your dependence on Him.
- Pray before you act. Before a meeting, ministry event, difficult conversation, or busy day, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words, attitudes, and decisions. Don’t just ask Him to bless your plans. Give Him room to direct them.
- Pay attention to opportunities to share Jesus. Ask God to show you someone who needs encouragement, prayer, or hope. You don’t have to preach a sermon every time you talk to someone. Sometimes a simple conversation, a listening ear, or a kind word opens the door for someone to experience His love.
The message to the church at Ephesus is still relevant to us today. We can be faithful in our responsibilities and still need God to renew our hearts. We can be busy in ministry and still need to make room for His presence. Jesus isn’t just looking for people who will keep working. He desires people who love Him and allow His love to flow through them to others.
Today I want to encourage you to return to your first love. Don’t settle for just going through the motions or checking off another ministry task. Remember the love Jesus has shown you, turn your heart toward Him again, and invite the Holy Spirit to renew your passion and empower you to serve. Let your time with Jesus be more than something you squeeze into your schedule. Let it become the source of everything you do. The world doesn’t just need a busy Church. It needs a Church that loves Jesus deeply, loves people genuinely, and carries the hope and power of the Holy Spirit wherever it goes. Let’s be people who don’t just work for Jesus, but walk closely with Him every day!
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 2:1-7
1“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
6But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Journal:
- What first drew me to Jesus, and how has my relationship with Him changed over time?
- Have I become so busy serving or fulfilling responsibilities that I’ve neglected time with Jesus?
- What is one practical step I can take this week to return to my first love?
- Who in my life might need to experience the love of Jesus through a simple act of kindness, encouragement, or prayer?
- How can I become more intentional about depending on the Holy Spirit in my daily life and ministry?
