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I read about the love story of Daniel Webster and Grace Fletcher. At the time, he was a poor lawyer who fell in love with Grace and began dating her. Grace's father was a clergyman and he allowed Daniel to visit only when he was present. So, they started dating in Grace's home, where she worked. Her job was to untangle knots in silk yarn, which was a time-consuming process. Daniel would sit with her for hours, holding one end of the yarn, while they both fell in love with each other. One day, when Grace's father left the room, Daniel proposed to her. He pulled out a red ribbon that he had tied into an intricate knot and said, "Grace, you and I have been untangling knots for a long time. What if we could tie a knot together that would last our entire lifetime?" Grace also tied up several intricate knots, tying them together. This knotted ribbon became very special to both of them, symbolizing their love for each other. They were married for about 21 years until Grace passed away. After Grace's death, Daniel got married to someone else, but he kept the mementos from his time with Grace in a box entitled “Precious Documents”. The box contained personal items, including letters from him and Grace. The letters were smudged because he had read them so many times. Daniel had pulled those letters out throughout his life to read back over Grace’s love letters to him during their courtship and even after they were married. A red knotted piece of yarn was also found in the box, which symbolized the knot they tied together. Even though Grace had passed away, Daniel never forgot his first love. So often, what happens is that we start our dating or married lives with a honeymoon phase. However, over time, our priorities may change. It's not that we stop loving each other, but we may start to cool off. When football season begins, some are more excited than others. I heard about a woman who was talking to her husband and he asked if there was anything she needed to tell him before the football season started. She thought about it and said, “I think you love football more than you love me.” He replied, “Yeah, but I love you more than I love basketball.” Just as married relationships can cool off, our relationship with God can, too. Before we know it, what began as a passionate walk with God, can cool off. Our quiet times, if they exist at all, can become dull and more like going through a routine. Revelation 2 describes the church at Ephesus as just going through the motions. Revelation 2:1a, 2-5 (NKJV) 1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, … 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” The church in Ephesus was founded by the apostle Paul himself. This church has an incredible heritage and pedigree. Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus, which is now known as the Book of Ephesians. Paul wrote two letters to his protégé in ministry, Timothy, who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. Church history tells us that the Apostle John, who wrote the Book of Revelation, the Gospel of John, and three letters that bear his name (First, Second and Third John), was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. This church had an incredible pedigree, but Jesus' words to them were, "I have something against you. You have left your first love." If it can happen to such a great church, it is a temptation for us, too. He shares three different steps to return to that flame that you once had. First, He says, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen." In Greek, that's a word that means to keep on remembering - it's a present imperative that describes continually remembering. You are constantly remembering. Have you forgotten about what happened when you gave your life to Jesus? Have you forgotten about being lost? Have you forgotten about that time when you did not know Jesus, and you were living for yourself? You were destined for hell, separated from God, and yet God, in His love and mercy, reached out to you and loved you into the kingdom. Every single day when I'm praying in my prayer journal, I say, "Thank you, God, for allowing me to be Your child. Thank You, God, for bringing me into the kingdom. Thank You for loving me through the cross." Never get over the fact that Jesus reached out, opened your spiritual eyes, and helped you see your lost condition and the beauty of the Gospel that could save you and make you right with Him. He says, "Keep on remembering from where you have fallen." Second: "Repent." This is not a popular word today, but Jesus uses that word to rebuke five out of the seven churches, from Revelation 2-3. He says, "Repent or else." Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. It's something internal. You are saying, "I choose to no longer live for myself, but I'm living for Jesus. I choose to no longer live in this direction, but instead be Jesus-centered.” Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. Third: “Return” or "Do the first works." He says, "Do the first works or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place.” What do you do with a bulb that's out? You throw it away. It no longer has its usefulness. Do you remember when you first gave your life to Jesus? I can't forget this comment that my dad, who gave his life to Christ at 33, told me. Since I was born when he was 40, this was many years after I was born, but I remember him telling me, even as a teenager, he would say, "Josh, I remember when I first gave my life to Christ. I just had so much love in my heart. I could not help it. All I wanted to do was go and hug a tree. I had so much love." Where does that come from? From God. He is love, and He's filling our life. We love Him, and we love others, and we love the lost, and we love His church. All that love just bubbles out. Don't allow that to cool off in your relationship. Do the first works. Was there ever a time when you loved Jesus more than you do right now? What were you doing during that time? You might reflect on that time and say, "I came to church every time the doors were open. Every morning I'd wake up an hour early just to spend time with Jesus. Every time I would go on my lunch break, I would stick my Bible on my dashboard, I would pull it out, and I would read for a chapter. I would eat my lunch, but then I would read. I would tell people about Jesus. I would carry little pocket cards in my pocket that would have a scripture verse that I would memorize." I'm telling you all of these things that we probably did when we were on fire for Jesus. The question is, why did we ever stop? That's what Jesus' question to Ephesus was, "Why'd you stop?" Go back and return to what you did before. Go back and be around the family of God. Be involved in that Bible study group. Jesus says, "Go back. Do the first works." The sad truth is Ephesus did not do that. Today, there's no church there. The church continued to go in the direction that it was going in and it did not heed the words of Jesus. If that can happen to a church that was founded by the apostle Paul, that was pastored by John, Timothy, and Paul, it can happen to any church. If it can happen to a church that's sound doctrinally, that's steadfast, that's successful, that's sacrificial, then it can happen to any church. A woman was riding in a truck with her husband. He was driving the truck and they were sitting on the front bench. She said to him, "Honey, do you remember those times when we were dating and there was no space between us? I was sitting in the middle of that bench, right beside you, and you were driving. There was just no space between us. Don't you remember those good old days? And why don't we do that?" He looked at her and replied, "I never moved." Sometimes we feel distant from God and wonder why we don't feel the same fire and passion for Him as we once did. But just like the husband in the truck who never moved, God never moves away from us. We can always slide closer to Him and rekindle our love for Him. Remember, repent, return to those first works, and you will soon find the fire rekindled with your relationship with the Lord. Dear God, my heart has grown cold. I’m not prioritizing my walk with You. Please forgive me. Remind me of the activities that I used to do, and I commit to returning to them. I never want to leave You, my First Love. In Jesus’ name, amen. |
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