Forgotten your first love...

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp-stand (church - Rev.1:20) from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelations 2:2-7

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans appears to have been a form of antinomianism. Antinomianism is defined as a belief that is based upon a recognition of the mercy of God as the ground of salvation, but it makes the fatal mistake that man can freely partake in sin because the Law of God is no longer binding. It held the truth on the gratuitous reckoning of righteousness; but supposed that a mere intellectual "belief" in this truth had a saving power.

The Apostle James refuted this error in James 2:19 with the admonition, "The devils also believe, and tremble"; reminding us that true faith is an active principle which works by love and it goes beyond a profession of belief. "But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:20)

We are to walk this life together in loving-kindness.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, the gift of God; 

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

The Bible teaches us that salvation is a free gift, based upon God's grace alone. However, the very next verse tells us that "we are created in Christ Jesus for good works."  True faith produces action, as well as a desire for holiness and obedience. (1 John 3:18, Titus 2:11-15, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 14:12)

If you are caught up in the unconditional love that the Holy God is offering you, you want to offer something to Him in return as a token of your affection for Him.  It's not about "earning" his love because that can't be done. We are a sinful people. We can not ever be "good enough" to earn God's love.  He offers it freely to us because Jesus paid the debt that we could never pay.

According to my internet research, in America, 3500 – 4000 churches close their doors each year. Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through conversion growth. Churches lose an estimated 2,765,000 people each year to nominalism and secularism. I believe the above quotes speak for themselves. The first love that was abandoned is two-fold. Our passion for God should spur us into actively loving others. A life of service only counts if the service is prompted by love, expectation or obligation is not good enough.

Father,

Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Jesus. Thank You for adopting us into Your family and giving us the right to call You Daddy.

Jesus,

Thank You for dying for us, defeating death and the grave for us. Thank You for reconciling us to our Father. You are the best big brother a girl could ever have!

Spirit,

Thank You for not leaving us to walk this life alone. Thank You for being our Comforter and Counselor.