Bible Society of South Africa
Benescke Janse van Rensburg

A new start – Day 12

A new start … Do you still make him your first love?

Bible text(s)

Revelation 2

2I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and have found out that they are liars. 3You are patient, you have suffered for my sake, and you have not given up. 4But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first. 5Think how far you have fallen! Turn from your sins and do what you did at first. If you don't turn from your sins, I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:2-5GNBOpen in Bible reader

It was a sad day when the queen of the kingdom died at a young age. She was not only loved by the king, but was also loved and respected by the whole kingdom. People travelled from all over the country to show their last respects. The king’s servants carried the coffin through the streets and the sound of sobbing people filled the air.

After the procession through the streets, the servants placed the coffin next to the grave, where the king fell to his knees and sobbed, “Justine! Justine! How will I ever live without you?” When he finally arose, he wiped away his tears and, with a determined look in his eyes, announced, “Servants, close the grave. We will not bury the queen in it. Tomorrow we will start building a temple, with only the finest materials, as a place of honour to our queen. No one must ever forget her!”

The construction started. As the months turned into years, the building became increasingly more impressive, but the builders paid less and less attention to the dusty wooden box in the middle of the room.

One day, the king entered the temple and, with satisfaction, admired the marble works and fine art on the walls. When he finished, he turned to walk out, but accidentally bumped his foot against the wooden box in the middle of the room. With irritation, he called one of the servants and commanded him to remove the box from the room. Unaware, the king ordered the servants to remove the queen from the temple.

How many of us have stepped into the same trap as this king? Initially, we are amazed at God’s greatness, love and redemption plan for humanity. We could not wait to tell people around us about Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. Then, if we are not careful, we step into the enemy’s trap to become so busy with the things of the Lord (for example, soup kitchens, bazaars, other projects), that we forget about the Lord himself.

Listen again to God’s words in Revelation 2:2-5: “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance … Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far 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 lamp stand from its place.”

Can you, with a honest heart, say that God is still your first love? Or have you fallen into the trap of focusing too much on other things? Let us put him back on the throne of our hearts today. God bless.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.25.3
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