Rekindling Love

After my morning conference call, I visited with some of the staff of Serve 6.8 about the upcoming, “Colorado Gives Day” event. Next Tuesday, is the annual emphasis for online giving for Colorado nonprofits. Serve 6.8 is the nonprofit based at Timberline Church that built my handicap ramp and did so much to support my recovery. If you would like to join me in a gift you can do so at https://www.coloradogives.org/Serve68/overview

I have enjoyed connecting with the Berthoud Chamber of Commerce in recent weeks. This is a great group of local business people. Today was their holiday lunch with an interesting, Christmas bazaar of gifts from local businesses.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first.”  Revelation 2:4,5 NCV

The Book of Revelation is written to the seven churches of Asia Minor. In each  message is a commendation, a condemnation and a call to repentance with an accompanying reward.

The Church of Ephesus had great devotion. They did many good things, but in their doing, their love for the Lord had lost its edge. Deeds inspired by love, became routine and ritual. In calling them to renew their love, we find steps that are important for love to be renewed to any relationship.

Remember. Jesus called them to stop and reflect on what, “it was like at the beginning.” It seems just as some “fall out of love” with a mate, they had done so Jesus. They were to consider, what happened and when and why in their relationship with the Lord.

Repent. They were not just to be “sorry” for their state or to ask forgiveness, but to change their attitude and behavior. That is true repentance. Repentance leads the way to change.

Renew. The way back to your “first love” is to “do what you did in the beginning.” That may be more time with the Lord. Time in prayer, in His word, time in worship. There is a saying that I heard years ago that says, “you act your way into a better way of feeling.” In human relationships it is tricky because often “feelings of attraction” serve as the motivation to begin a relationship. But soon the calls, time together, gifts and other “acts of love” have a significant impact on the “feelings.” When a young mother gets up in the middle of the night to feed a newborn, she is not captivated by intense “feelings of love.” But as she feeds and cuddles the baby, it begins to respond and she begins to feel different.

How important is our love for the Lord? The warning for failure to change is this, “….If you do not change, I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place.” (Rev. 2:5 NCV) That’s pretty serious! But we need to remember that “religion” is about ritual; but being a Christ follower is about, “relationship.”

The promise to those who hear and respond is equally encouraging, “…To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life, which is in the garden of God.” (Rev. 2:6 NCV) Access, fellowship and privilege are the rewards and benefits of love. Our work for the Lord will one day come to an end, but our relationship with the Lord and the pleasure of His presence is what eternity is all about.

Broken relationships are painful. Restored relationships are fulfilling. We find here a key to our lives that can be applied to our relationship with the Lord and others. Remember, repent and renew.