Many of us will be more familiar with an earlier translation of these words: “you have lost your first love”. The Christians in Ephesus had done so well. They had been strong in the face of opposition but, in the process, they had lost their early passionate love for the Lord and for one another.

We don’t know what had caused them to lose their first love, but we all know how easily it happens. The normal cause is simply distraction. Life gets busy, and even the most important things can be crowded out. In Ephesus, the Christians had had to work really hard to survive amid all the opposition. They had been infiltrated by false teachers, but they had tested them and found them out. The Lord commended them for standing up so strongly for their faith and particularly for the way they had resisted a group called the Nicolaitans. All of that was excellent, but along the way they had lost sight of love.

Paul emphasised the priority of love in his first letter to the church in Corinth. Once again, it was a church where there was much to commend. The church had received some amazing spiritual gifts, but Paul assured them that however great their gifts, they were all a complete waste of time without love. Even if they could speak like angels, understand every mystery and have the faith to shunt mountains around, they were missing the point if they didn’t have love (1 Corinthians 13).

Love is so important that we all need to keep on our toes. We need to watch out for those things that can push it away so easily. Love is the key, and without it we cannot do God’s work.

What can we do to keep our love for the Lord and one another alive?

Loving God, thank you that you love me perfectly. Help me to keep on loving you and those around me, however busy I become and whatever the pressures. Amen