Do you remember the day you were saved? For some, that was not very long ago. For others, that may have been decades ago. But, if you picture that day, what do you remember about how you felt once you came up out of the saving waters of baptism?
I can clearly remember how I felt. Immediately I was overcome with the feelings of joy and relief. I knew that I was no longer guilty of the sins I committed. I was a new creation in Christ Jesus. I was like Paul in Acts 9:20 when, “…immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues saying, ‘This man is the Son of God.’” I was excited to take the Lord’s Supper for the first time. I was excited to serve in the church, and I was excited to tell all of my friends about it. I was on fire for the Lord. Was it the same for you?
The zeal we felt on that day is unlike anything we will experience in our lives. Do we still have it? As the years go on, we may change congregations, struggle with sins, experience trials and heartaches, or become complacent. For many, it may not be that long before the zeal we once had dwindles. Friends, we can get our zeal back!
In Revelation 2, the church in Ephesus had the same issue. On one hand, Jesus praises their work. They are patient, they do not bear those who are evil, and they were exposing false teachers (v. 2-3). But Jesus tells them, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (v. 4). What was the church lacking? What does it mean? The answer lies in Jesus’ command for them, “…repent and do the first works…” (v. 5).
Do we realize that our love and zeal for God are directly tied to our works? James 2:26 tells us that faith without works is dead. Our spiritual health depends on our works. This is why the Hebrews writer commands us to, “…consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25).
So, then what are the first love and first works of a Christian? The love is what we learned when we were saved. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). That love moves us to do the first works: sharing the gospel with any who will listen. What was Paul’s response to being saved? “Immediately, he began to proclaim Jesus.”
If your zeal has been lacking, then you need to restore your first love. Spend some time reflecting on the love Christ showed you and start living like you were saved yesterday.