Slideshow image

I was reading my Bible the other day and came across a passage written to the church in Ephesus. God starts by praising them for all the good things they were doing, but then He gently corrects them.

It made me think about how loving and personal God is. He doesn’t just let us keep going when we’re off track—He steps in, not to scold us, but to lovingly guide us back. His correction isn’t about being harsh or laying down rules. It’s about helping us grow and protecting us from heading in the wrong direction.

It’s a lot like how we respond to our kids; if we see them making a choice that could hurt them, we speak up because we love them. God does the same. His correction is never to push us away, but to bring us closer to His heart and His best for our lives.

Revelations 2:1-5 - "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: "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;  and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. (These were all good things that the church had accomplished.)

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. 

If your actions come before your love for God, then, honestly, that’s all they are, just actions. It becomes a religion and a routine, not the kind of worship God is looking for. What He really wants is your heart. When your love for Him comes first, that becomes the reason you serve. Love is what gives everything meaning.

Revelation 2:5 says, “Repent and do the first works.” So what are those first works? Most of us would probably say: read your Bible, pray, worship, go to church. And yes, those are all important. But it’s not just about doing them—it’s about why we’re doing them.

If we’re just going through the motions because we’ve always done it that way or because we feel like we have to, it quickly becomes routine. That’s what the Bible calls “works.”

What do I mean by that? “Works” are when we do spiritual things to look or feel righteous, but our hearts aren’t in it. It’s easy to slip into that mode, praying out of habit, reading the Bible without truly listening, and showing up at church but feeling disconnected.

But when you love Jesus, those same things come from a different place. You want to pray. You want to be in His Word. You want to be in church because your heart is in it. Love changes everything.

Jesus had no problem calling out people who were doing all the right things outwardly, but He saw straight through to their hearts. And He still does.

Let’s not just go through the motions. Let’s come back to our first love—and let that love shape everything we do.

Matthew 15:7-9 - Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" 

God knows us inside and out, and there is nothing false or fake about God.  We must come to Him with sincerity and honesty.  

John 4:24 - God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Worship isn’t just about singing songs; it’s really about love. True worship is seeking Him with all you are. God doesn’t ask for our worship because He’s insecure or needs praise. He knows that when we shift our focus from ourselves to Him, it changes us. It brings peace, perspective, and strength.

When we stay focused on our problems, we can feel overwhelmed and hopeless. But when we turn to God, we open the door for Him to help, heal, provide for, and protect us. He wants to care for us, but we have to look to Him, trust Him, and invite Him in.

If you’ve been feeling distant or like you’re just going through the motions, ask God to refresh your heart. Invite Him to reveal Himself to you again. Start thinking about His goodness and all that He has done for you. As your love for Him grows, you’ll find yourself becoming a true worshiper, someone who lives with their heart fully turned toward God. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to keep my heart right before you. I repent if I have put my service for you before my love. I pray that my heart would be sensitive to you and that my love for you would supersede anything that I do in my life.  I declare today that I love you, Lord, and thank you for loving me! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.