Losing Your Love

By Steve Clark

May 21, 2026

Revelation 2:2-4 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience,… 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

There was a young couple who tied the knot, and they went on their honeymoon in Bermuda. On their return they’re doing like all couples do just after their honeymoon—kissin’ and huggin’ all the time. They were hanging all over each other and being EXTREMELY courteous and helpful and loving to each other.

Now I know what your thinking—wait till the honeymoon ends! We shouldn’t leave that love towards our spouses. The honeymoon should never end!

This same principle applies to our spiritual life. When a person comes to Christ, the spiritual journey is a lot like a honeymoon. There is passion and enthusiasm for Christ. However, as time rolls by, that “first love” can diminish, if you let it!  

This is what happened in the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2, and Jesus is going to address the problem Himself.

First, they had activity without intimacy. Look again in verses 2 & 3. We’re called to LABOR for the Lord and to SERVE Him and people. But look down at verse 4 where Jesus says they left the first love, even though they were a BUSY church. If we’re not careful, we can be busy doing activities but lack intimacy with Jesus.

Which do you think is most important to God—Service for Him or Time with Him? Both! God DOES want us to serve Him, but He wants us to have quality time with Him as well. Works are no substitute for time with God. SERVE Jesus; WORK for Him; LABOR in His vineyard. But be sure to find time to love Jesus daily in the Word, and in prayer, and corporately at the church with other believers.

Reflection—They LEFT their love. What you leave you may lose, but it may be found where you left it.