Remembering Our First Love

## **Introduction – A Moment to Remember**

Video Ill.: We Will Remember (Memorial Day) — Hyper Pixels Media

*“Today, we remember those who gave all for our freedom. We thank God for their sacrifice, and mourn with those left behind. 'Greater love has no one than this to lay down one's life for one's friends' (John 15:13). We will remember. We will never forget.”*

Memorial Day — a day upon which we stop to express our gratitude — our thanksgiving — for those who have fought the good fight for our country — to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in order that we might live in peace, freedom, and security.

While we celebrate Memorial Day as the unofficial start of summer, with days off from work, travel, grilling and partying with friends and family, Memorial Day is a much more somber holiday for our country.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million soldiers have given their lives in battle fighting to defend the freedoms we so often take for granted today.

I pray that we never forget the deep cost that has been paid so that you and I can meet here today, can speak as we believe, can bear arms, can vote for those who will represent us in our governments. And the list goes on. *May we never forget.*

For when we forget, we risk far more than just losing sight of history—we risk becoming ungrateful, disconnected, even complacent. We begin to take for granted what was purchased at great cost. We start to drift from the values and commitments that once stirred our hearts.

That is why remembrance matters. It roots us. It re-centers us. It awakens us to what truly matters.

And just as we are called to remember the lives laid down for our country, we are also called to remember the One who laid down His life for our souls. Jesus said:

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15, NLT)

This morning, I want to talk about that kind of love—a sacrificial, first kind of love. Because if we are honest, it is easy to forget. Easy to drift. Easy to go through the motions of faith and forget the reason we started in the first place.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus speaks to a church that had done just that. They were active, they were faithful—but they had forgotten something essential. They had forgotten *their first love.*

Let us turn there together and reflect on what it means to remember—and return to—the One who loved us first.

## **I. The Church That Forgot**

In Revelation 2, John was told to write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus:

1 …These are the words of Him who holds the seven starts in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, || and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not || repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from || the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2, NIV1984)

Jesus starts out commending and celebrating the church at Ephesus. They were the hardest working church around! No one works hard than they do. They give it their all all of the time.

And you know, they’ve really been through it — they’ve had some seriously difficult times, and they’ve come out on the other side no worse for the wear. They’ve persevered through the tough times.

They stand up for the truth and true doctrine. No one can pull any false teaching on them.

They have faith. They’ve added knowledge and perseverance to it. They’ve worked so hard over the years.

But their faith was missing the capstone of love. They had forgotten all about their first love, Jesus Christ.

Jesus commends their work. But Jesus condemns their lack of love.

They were faithful in service, but had forgotten intimacy.

**Illustration: The Marriage That Forgot**

Imagine a husband and wife who have been married for 30 or 40 years. When they were young, they were full of passion, love letters, long talks into the night, thoughtful gifts, and spontaneous gestures. But over time, something happened. The romance faded. The passion cooled. Now, their days are filled with tasks: paying the bills, mowing the lawn, cooking dinner, cleaning the house. They manage the household, they coordinate schedules, they make sure the kids and grandkids are taken care of—but the relationship itself has become mechanical, functional.