Relational Memory Loss
In November 2023, my wife and I will celebrate 37 years of marriage. We both serve each other in special ways. It is a part of our married life together. But our service flows out of our love for each other. We know this to be true because we still enjoy each other’s company and the discovery of thoughts we each possess individually on different topics, and there is romance in our relationship. We like being together, doing things together, and sharing things together.
I’ve never been tempted to notice a good, hard-working employee and assume they love their boss. Their work ethic does not indicate they love their boss. In fact, they may like their boss much at all and yet be a good employee due to a work ethic and a need to draw a paycheck. The service they give may not have anything at all to do with love.
This can be true of believers in Jesus.
Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 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.
There’s nothing indicated here of the gathering being abandoned, no hint of a loss of diligence in speaking out against evil and taking a stand against it. Seems to be a faithful continuing practice of doing things for God. There’s even a keen, effective practice in discerning true and false apostles. Add to that the testimony of having endured some things, exhibited patience, and labored for Jesus without growing weary, and it sounds like the ultimate Christian.
But Jesus sees into the heart of the matter. Jesus is not characterized as being a critic. He is anything but. However, in this case, we find the glorified Jesus making it a point to draw attention to something near and dear to His heart. Jesus has an affinity to first love. Jesus has an affinity for vibrant, alive, and healthy relationship.
The quickest way to experience a loss of influence where it really matters is to lose sight of the importance of first love.
1John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
That’s right, Jesus loves us just as He did at the first. There’s never any hint of His love diminishing over time, as He is never distracted by other things or too busy to remember His love for us. I want to always bear in mind and in my heart the same love I experienced when I was first introduced to Him and captivated with awe by who He is and all He has done.
The idea of His presence in me is still exciting and feels very much like a special privilege. The thought of His loving me still blows my mind and fills my heart. To belong to Him is the greatest honor ever, and to know Him outweighs anything and everything else in life. His thoughts are intriguing, His wisdom worth taking time to discover, and His friendship worth taking time to seek out and grow in. I encourage you to take time to hear and enjoy Him so that your love for Him stays strong and alive as it was at the first. Revel in His undying love for you. I promise He’ll never suffer from relational memory loss.
