Loving Wholeheartedly - Living Out God's Love

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4, NIV)

Who was your first love? Not long ago, I was rummaging through my old yearbooks and came across one from elementary school. My first crush had written on one of the blank pages, “I don’t know what else to say, but I love you.” I laughed out loud when I saw his childish proclamation. I giggled even more when I noticed I had returned the youthful sentiments in the margins of my notebooks. Young love, right?

I thought I felt this way about him. Maybe I did, based on the limited understanding of my naive heart. But as I’ve aged, and met my husband, Bryan, what I know now of love is much different than what I knew then. The notes written by Bryan and his words of endearment hold a much deeper meaning than those childhood notions.

Even within my marriage, our affection has grown since we first met. And while devotion has increased over the past twenty years of our relationship, we must be diligent to continually seek ways to make each other feel special.

When we were first together, we were in college. We had fewer responsibilities and focusing solely on one another was simpler. But over time, as we’ve purchased homes, started businesses, and had children, our attention has become more divided. As the years have passed, we have found that it takes intentional effort from both of us to ensure we continue prioritizing our marriage.

The same is true of our relationship with the Lord. When we first encounter Him, we are filled with awe and zeal. We can’t wait to be in His presence, pray, attend church, worship, and read our Bibles. But then, over the years, if we aren’t careful, our feelings can grow stale, and we can forget the magnitude of what He means to us.

This was the case for the church of Ephesus. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in AD 60, the apostle commended them for their fervent love and faith. However, 35 years later when Paul writes a letter to the same church notated in the book of Revelation, it carries a much different tone. This time, he condones, “I know your deeds, hard work, and perseverance. You have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first (Revelation 2:2-5).”

God is a jealous God who wants our whole hearts (Exodus 34:14). However, He knew we would be prone to wander; therefore, He promised, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19, NIV).”

This transplant is the work of the Holy Spirit. To exchange stubborn hearts of stone for responsive hearts of flesh is the work of a loving God with a tenderness toward His creation–and a soft spot particularly for you. In fact, Scripture reveals, “the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His (2 Chronicles 16:9, NASB 1995).”

Do you long to love God with all of your heart? Let us not forsake our first love. Instead, may God grant us the ability to be faithful to the end.

Father, You are my first love. Help me to keep You as the highest importance in my life. Forgive me for ever having a divided heart. When I get distracted, or chase after any other loves, draw me back to You. May I display my affection and intention for You with even more enthusiasm than at the beginning of our relationship. Thank You for loving me wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Who or what do you love more than God right now? If your heart has been divided, how can you make God a priority again?