How do we get back our first love?

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love

Revelation 2:4

Losing our first love for Jesus is something that happens over time rather than overnight. It often begins when we find ourselves really busy with the issues of life and find that we can no longer dedicate as much time as we did at the beginning to worshipping, praying and reading the Word. The question today is, how do we get back our first love?

1. Repent

Firstly we are encouraged by our Lord to repent. To repent is to have a change of mind. We need to recognise that we have fallen and sincerely ask Him to forgive us for falling out of love with Him or not loving Him as much as we did when we first surrendered our lives to Him:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

1 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

• Do what we did when we first fell in love with Jesus

After we have repented, we then need to make a conscious and decisive decision to do what we did at first when we fell in love with Jesus. For some of us, we spent hours reading His Word, or worshiping Him through music. Whatever it was that we did when we first came to Jesus, He wants us to get back to that place. Now is the best time to start:

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I pray that You will forgive me for losing my first love. Please help me to fall in love with You all over again, and do the works I did at first in Jesus mighty name, amen!

Why should we read the Book of Revelation?

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)

During this Covid-19 lockdown, I felt impressed in my spirit to switch the focus from the Book of Proverbs and turn to the Book of Revelation. This book used to terrify me. On reflection, I now realise that it was because I was not surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ and was not prepared to study about the end times which seemed like a daunting topic to me. Since I gave my life to Jesus Christ however, the book of Revelation has become one of my favourite books in the Bible.

The Book of Revelation is actually one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible and many Bible scholars differ in their interpretation. I pray that the Lord will give us His Spirit of wisdom and revelation as we study the Book of Revelation!

So why should we read this book?

This is the only book in the Bible that confers blessings on the reader

The Book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that we are told we will be blessed if we read it. This is key because perhaps the Lord knew that people may be put off reading the book because of its symbolism and because of the judgments contained in the book, As a result He promises blessings on those who are willing to read it:

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:3

This is the last book the Lord left with the Church

There are 66 books in the Bible and this is the last book that was left with us. In this book we learn the seven letters that Jesus wanted His Church to have and cherish. The last message from anyone is extremely important therefore it is important that we take need to the message. Indeed, Jesus says that let those who have ears listen:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Revelation 2:29 (NKJV)

Prayer

I pray that as we go through this book the God of our Father will give us His Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, I pray the eyes of our understanding will be enlightened that we may know the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:17-18).