The First Love
The sermon emphasizes the importance of prioritizing personal daily fellowship with Christ and making His love the central focus of our lives.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the critical importance of maintaining a personal and fervent love for Christ, as highlighted in Revelation 2:4, where the Church of Ephesus is admonished for leaving its first love. Despite their zeal and good works, the absence of a deep, personal relationship with Jesus renders their efforts meaningless in His eyes. Murray calls for a return to this intimate fellowship, stressing that true Christian life and service must stem from a heart filled with love for Christ. He warns that many in ministry may be active yet spiritually deficient due to neglecting this vital connection. The message urges believers to prioritize their love for Jesus above all else in their daily lives.
Text
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." - Revelation 2:4.
In Revelation 2:2-3, eight signs are mentioned showing the zeal and activity of the Church at Ephesus. But there was one bad sign, and the Lord said: "...I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (Revelation 2:5). And what was this sign? "...thou hast left thy first love." (Revelation 2:4).
We find the same lack in the Church of the present day. There is zeal for the truth, there is continuous and persevering labor, but that which the Lord values most is wanting, the tender, fervent love to Himself.
This is a thought of great significance: a church, a community, or a Christian, may be an example in every good work, and yet the tender love to the Lord Jesus in the inner chamber is missing. What a pity!
There is no personal daily fellowship with Christ, and all the many activities with which people satisfy themselves are as nothing in the eyes of the Master Himself.
Dear brother and sister, this book speaks of the fellowship of love with Christ in the inner chamber. Everything depends on this. Christ came from heaven to love us with the love wherewith the Father loved Him. He suffered and died to win our hearts for this love. His love can be satisfied with nothing less than a deep, personal love on our part.
Christ considers this of the first importance. Let us do so too. Many ministers and missionaries and Christian workers confess with shame that in spite of all their zeal in the Lord's work, their prayer life is defective, because they have left their first love. I pray you, write this down on a piece of paper, and remember it continually:--The love of Jesus must be all--in the inner chamber, is all my work, in my daily life.
Sermon Outline
- The First Love
- The Importance of First Love
- The Church at Ephesus
- The Present Day Church
Key Quotes
“Christ considers this of the first importance.” — Andrew Murray
“The love of Jesus must be all--in the inner chamber, is all my work, in my daily life.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- Prioritize personal daily fellowship with Christ to restore and maintain a deep, personal love for Him.
- Recognize that zeal for good works is not enough without a tender, fervent love for Jesus Christ.
- Make the love of Jesus the central focus of your life, in both your inner chamber and daily activities.