No Substitute for Holiness

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus rebuked the church at Ephesus by saying "You have left your first love."

Prior to this stinging charge, Jesus stated that the church was lively, energetic, and active. He knew their works, their labor. They were diligent, determined, discerning, and appropriately discriminating. Yes, they were lively, but they were loveless.

Earl Kelly, former Executive-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, included in his commentary a story that described many marriages. The man of the house worked long hours providing more than adequate funds for his wife and children to enjoy the finer things of life. The wife and mother faithfully completed her duties chaperoning the children to school and athletic events. The wife immaculately cleaned the house and nurtured a photogenic flower garden. Meals were exquisite and timely. However, at the end of the day the husband and wife collapsed into bed exhausted and spent. Yes, they maintained a house and a family unit, but they never uttered the words "I love you." The home was lively, but loveless.

In church and in our personal lives, busyness is no substitute for Holiness. While it is good to do things for Jesus, it is more important to spend time with Jesus. Don't settle for doing good things. Do the best thing. "Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27)."

The church at Ephesus had not lost their first love. They had left their first love. To me, I see a church that had taken their relationship with God for granted. Just as we can take our personal relationship with Christ for granted.

Petra sang a song many years ago that stated, "You say you've walked ten thousand steps away But don't you know that it's only one step back? Because the One who hears you when you pray Is the One who's there beside you And He'll never walk away."

Return to your first love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son...(John 3:16).