When John Newton realized that Jesus had forgiven him, he couldn’t believe it. It felt too wonderful to him. He wrote in his famous hymn:
“Amazing love, how can it be,
That Thou, My God, should die for me!”
This is what first love for Jesus feels like. It’s the overwhelming joy and gratitude of realizing how much Jesus loves us and what He has done for us The Story of Dr. Bob Munger.
The Excitement of First Love
When someone first comes to Christ, they are filled with excitement and eagerness to serve. They want to help others, sing praises, and share the love of Jesus. Serving Jesus feels like the least they can do in response to His love. That is first love in action Ephesus Sightseeing.
The Shift Away from First Love
But over time, something starts to shift. We get busy, and the things we do for Christ begin to feel more important than the love we had for Him. We might start caring more about our position, status, and what others think of us. We still do the same things, but the motivation behind them changes. Slowly, we can lose the passion and joy that comes from first love.
Signs You Are Losing First Love
There are a few signs that show we are starting to lose our first love for Jesus:
Loss of Joy
At first, the Christian life feels exciting and full of joy. But when you begin to lose first love, everything starts to feel routine and boring. Church services might feel dull, and even your personal time with God can seem mechanical. If this happens, it’s a sign that you are drifting away from your first love.
Losing the Ability to Love Others
The Bible teaches that we love others because Jesus first loved us. When we forget the wonder of Jesus’ love for us, we also lose the ability to love others well. We become critical, easily annoyed, and less compassionate. We start to choose friends based on our preferences and stop reaching out to everyone like we once did.
Self-Centeredness
As we lose first love, our focus shifts from what God wants to what we want. We start caring more about pleasing ourselves than pleasing God. We become sensitive to criticism, and this can lead to divisions and problems in the church. Instead of being concerned about reaching others for Christ, we become focused on our own comfort and desires.
The Importance of First Love
When we lose first love, we also lose our passion for serving and helping others. We become more focused on ourselves than on spreading God’s love. It’s important to remember and return to the joy and excitement of first love with Jesus. That love should be the motivation for everything we do.
