"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." - Revelation 2:4
As the pastor of a large church, it’s not uncommon for couples to ask my advice on how to save their marriages. In fact, my wife and I come into contact with people whose marriages are struggling on a regular basis. It’s a sad thing when that happens because we know, in reality, that they may not make it. One thing we’ve learned to ask is, “Why did you fall in love in the first place? What was it that attracted you to your mate?” Out of the deadness of lost love, we sometimes see a flicker of hope that can be rekindled.
Jesus makes this comparison in our relationship with Him. When we drift away from loving Him most – more than anyone or anything, He says [my paraphrase], “Remember how it was when you fell in love with Me? There was joy, excitement, and gratitude for forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.” Then Jesus tells His church, “Remember where you have fallen and do the deeds you did at first.” What did a fallen Christian do when they came to Christ in faith and loved Him most? They wanted to be with Him, to know Him, to worship Him. To be with Him equals prayer, Bible study, and worship. They wanted to please Him, trust Him, follow Him and obey Him. They wanted to tell others about Him – like someone in love – to share with others the greatness of Jesus.
Is your marriage struggling? Are you a Christian who is struggling and you’ve drifted away from the Lord? Remember what it was like when you fell in love with your spouse and do what you did back then. Likewise, remember what it was like when you fell in love with Jesus and rekindle that joyful relationship with your Creator. In doing that, you might find that finding joy in your marriage also becomes easier in the process.
