"First Love"

I was horseback way out yonder,

Had lots of time to ponder,

Why people so far wander,

From all they know is right.

Methinks it happens slowly,

Not suddenly and showy,

Slipping from the holy,

A gradual old flight.

‘Cause satan is a sly one,

And He will always try, son,

To never fire off his gun,

And spook you ‘fore you know,

That he’s been the distractor,

And disguised his tempting factor,

A bad news old protractor,

Of that old status quo.

We just get so used to it,

And then it’s hard to do it,

I mean to see right through it,

Return to our first love.

But that is still God’s answer,

To fight the devil’s cancer,

The Spirit’s true romancer,

The marriage from above.

The wind blows cross the rangeland,

And I know I’m in God’s hand,

The Spirit’s fire has been fanned,

As I think about these things.

And soon my circle’s finished,

But my strength undiminished,

God heals what has been blemished,

And peace is what He brings.

Yes, peace is what He brings.

“You have forsaken your first love…” (Rev. 2:4. NIV)

The church at Ephesus was strong and thriving in so many ways- good deeds, hard work and perseverance. They had been through a lot and had overcome, with God’s help. But the Spirit called them back to their first love. Do what you did when you first loved the Lord, the Spirit told them. That’s a good word for all of us. It happens before we know it. The spiritual passion cools off and the day to day becomes a humdrum existence of getting by instead of being on fire for Jesus. Was there ever a time we loved Him more than we do now? It’s a fair question. And if the answer is yes, then it’s time we returned to our first love. The good news is that we can, and immediately. There is no need for penance, only a honest, sincere willingness to change and come back to what matters most. He’ll do the rest.

Lord, help us return to our first love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, timcox.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.