FRIDAY September 12, 2025

Drifting Away From Your First Love

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works....”
Revelation 2:4-5

Jewish Christians had come to know the Lord, and at first, they had a hunger and thirst for the Gospel message. However, it did not take long before some of them began to lose their first love. Their faith in Christ grew cold. They exchanged the grace of God and went back to the Law––sad. In doing so, they had drifted away from the knowledge of the truth. They forgot all about redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. God had saved them; were they really going to turn away from what they had heard?

This scenario reminds me of a passage in the book of Revelation. John received a revelation from an angel about future Last Day events that were drawing near. In Revelation 1, he began to write to the seven churches in Asia. The first church he wrote to was the loveless church–– the church of Ephesus.

John described a church that was hardworking, patient, not tolerant of evil people, and had good discernment about those who proclaimed themselves to be apostles, but were actually imposters––liars. The church of Ephesus had continued to persevere, but despite all these great qualities, they were lacking one essential thing––love. They were busy serving the Lord, but they had left their first love.

Notice, the believers had not lost their first love; they had left it on their own accord. The word left means “to leave or depart.” If a ship is anchored down at night, but the anchor breaks loose, it will begin to drift with the tide without the captain and those onboard knowing.

Some people to not remain anchored to Christ. They slowly grow cold and “leave or depart” from for Christ without realizing it. Even though they are busy serving, they are neglecting their devotional time with the Lord. They need to renew their first love by restoring their communion with Him.

Is it not a sad thing, that after all Christ's love to us, we should repay it with lukewarm love to Him?
~C. H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!