Has my love for Jesus somehow grown colder? Is there a decrease in the level of my passion for Him? Am I simply “going through the motions” as I live out my faith?
These are tough, analytical questions you and I need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. Hopefully, this process will bring genuine conviction to us rather than producing a sense of condemnation. In spite of that possibility, however, examining ourselves in this way is worth the risk. Why? To make sure we are not just going through the motions.
What We Need to Avoid
Dick’s comments: My wife, Cindi, and I have a plaque hanging in a prominent place in our house. It is a prayer that begins with these words: “Lord, help us to remember when we first met, and the strong love that grew between us, to work that love into practical things so nothing can divide us.” After 55 years of marriage, Cindi and I both recognize that it is vitally important for us to take whatever action we need to keep our love alive and vibrant. For all Christians, the same desire should apply to our relationship with Jesus.
The topic for this letter came to me shortly after I had read again the words of Jesus in Revelation 2:4 to the church at Ephesus: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” The question that immediately came to mind was this one: What was the church at Ephesus doing—or failing to do—that signaled to Jesus that they had left their first love? (Whatever it was, we certainly don’t want to repeat their mistake.)
To answer this question, I read some commentaries on the book of Ephesians and this passage from Revelation. The most succinct explanation I found came from this note in the Spirit-Filled Life Bible: “The spiritual vitality springing from love for the Lord had degenerated into orthodox routine.” They were simply going through the motions.
Jesus Notices Us
Philip’s comments: It should encourage us to take note of both the start and the finish of what Jesus said to the Ephesians. His first words were: “I know your works.” Sometimes we tend to downplay the role of “works” in our Christian life. But Jesus is paying attention to what we do as we follow Him in obedience. Our works matter.
In verses 2 and 3 of Revelation 2, Jesus commends the Ephesian church for their diligent service as they followed Him, resisting evil and holding to the truth: “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” Those are strong commendations that any of us would love to hear.
So, what was the problem? In the process of serving the Lord faithfully, their focus on routine had allowed their love to grow cold and lifeless. How do you and I make sure that doesn’t happen to us? How do we avoid the trap of just going through the motions?
No Condemnation Allowed!
Philip and Dick together: The good news—actually a sobering challenge—is the command Jesus issues in Revelation 2:5 to the church at Ephesus: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.” Just like the prayer cited earlier: “Lord, help us to remember when we first met, and the strong love that grew between us.”
As we pointed out at the beginning of this letter, it’s hard not to cave in to condemnation when we deal with a topic like this. Our tendency may be to say, “Yep, I’m failing big-time in this area. I have allowed my passion for Jesus to degenerate into mere religious activity. I’m guilty as charged…simply going through the motions.”
Please don’t allow the words from that accusing voice to be the message you take away from this letter. (If you do, we will have failed miserably in our task.) What is the right response? Here it is. Each of us must take a regular, honest look at the status of our relationship with Jesus—to the end that we rekindle our first love and renew our passion for Him. The goal for all this? To make sure we are not just going through the motions.
A Call for Intimacy
In the final part of a radio series entitled “Relationship with God,” Derek Prince places a challenge before us to increase the depth of our love for Jesus. Citing the urgent need we all share to draw close to Him, especially as we move into the end times, Derek helps to dispel any tendency on our part to simply go through the motions.
The analogy here [in Ephesians 5:25–27] is very clear. Just as a husband loves his wife, so Christ loves the church. The kind of relationship a husband desires from his wife is the same kind of relationship Christ desires from the church. In fact, the whole culmination of the relationship between Christ and His church is the marriage supper of the Lamb. In Revelation 19:7, it says: “...the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready” (NASB 1995).
From one aspect, the supreme responsibility of the church is to prepare herself for that marriage union with Christ; and very significantly and solemnly, I believe only those who have made that preparation can be included in the bride, for it says very specifically: “His bride has made herself ready.”
I wonder if that applies to you. Have you ever realized the intimacy of the relationship Christ desires with you? Have you ever seen yourself in that love relationship? If you have, and if you realize that the marriage union with the Lamb is to be the climax of all history, are you making yourself ready?
A Prayer of Renewal
As we see from what Derek has shared, it is a healthy practice to take stock of the level of our passion for the Lord and then renew our love for Him. Would you like to take that step of renewal right now? Let’s do so together with the following prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus, I realize that I have allowed my passion for You to slip into a lifeless routine. I ask Your forgiveness, and I cry out to You now for a renewal of my first love. I want to love You as strongly I did when I first came to know You.
With this prayer, I take the first step: remembering how deeply I loved You at the start. Dear Lord, I repent for the way I have moved away from that first love. Right now, Jesus, I commit myself to loving You as I did when I first met You.
Please lead me in practical actions I can take to keep my love for You vital and fresh. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your love and grace for me. Amen.
Alive and Fresh
In the last part of our prayer, we asked the Lord to show us some practical ways to keep our love for Jesus alive and fresh. It’s no secret that we need to maintain a healthy regimen of spiritual activities like soaking in the Word of God; engaging in worship, praise, and thanksgiving; praying with our understanding and praying in the Spirit.
Fortunately, we have a good supply of Derek Prince’s teaching on all of those topics available from DPM. It would be our great joy to assist you, starting with a free offer for “Relationship with God,” the message from which we took Derek’s quote. There is a link below to download a free MP3!
We want to stand with you as you take steps to renew your first love for Jesus. We also want to express our love for you. How grateful we are for our friendship with you! All of us at DPM send our love and thanks for your prayers and your support.
An Act of Unbridled Love
It’s hard to know how to end a letter like this. However, one beautiful image that has come to mind is the story of the woman with the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus during His earthly ministry. Luke 7:37–38 contains one of the Gospel accounts of this incident: “And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” In all the Bible, her act is one of the most amazing demonstrations of pure, unbridled love for the Lord Jesus.
Although we can’t replicate this loving act in the natural, we can do so in the Spirit. As we close this letter, let’s imagine ourselves coming into the presence of Jesus, bringing to Him the most precious gift we have—our love and passion for Him.
In our minds, we envision ourselves doing what this woman in Luke 7 has done—pouring out our love for Jesus. As we do so, renewing our first love and expressing our unbridled commitment to Him, we can have absolute confidence that Jesus is receiving what we are offering—and He knows we are not simply going through the motions.
Sincerely in Christ,
Philip Wyns
President, DPM-USA
All the best,
Dick Leggatt
ExecutiveConsultant/Senior Editor
