Persisting in Providence
By: Pastor Bailey Miller
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to start strong in faith but gradually slip into routine? Revelation 2:1–7 reminds us of this sobering reality. Jesus commended the Ephesian church for their hard work, sound doctrine, and perseverance, but He also had this against them:
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” – Revelation 2:4
This is a warning for every believer and every church. You can be theologically sharp and morally upright, yet lose the very heart of your devotion—your love for Christ. When that happens, faith becomes lifeless because it reflects one’s self rather than Christ who is the source of life. Such a general shift of going through the motions causes good religion to become a hollow ritual rather than obedience born from our saving relationship with Christ.
Lessons from the Ephesian Church
The church in Ephesus was diligent, doctrinally solid, and patient under suffering. But they had drifted from their passion. What was once love-driven devotion had cooled into mere duty. Jesus warned that if they didn’t repent, He would remove their “lampstand”—their witness and influence.
On the other hand, such a warning did not come due the the Ephesian church growing complacent due to inactivity. As previously stated, they had a well-rounded theology and practice that warded off false teachers, endured persecution and hardship, and even did so with great diligence. So the issue that arose was not whether or not Ephesus was doing the right things, but was persisting with the wrong fuel.
This warning is not just about Ephesus. Throughout church history, we see the same pattern: doctrine and duty taking the place of true love. From the early church through the Reformation and into modern times, the challenge has been the same—truth without love becomes sterile to ourselves and those who see such a reflection. Duty is inevitable in the Christian life as all are called to good works and doctrine is necessary as we are commanded to grow in our knowledge of the Lord, but all of this is tied together in the life-long, child-like pursuit of loving God with our whole being and revealing so in how we live all of our life.
Personal Reflection: Why Do We Grow Complacent?
If we’re honest, losing our first love doesn’t usually happen overnight. It’s often a slow drift. Much like the church in Ephesus, this can happen when responsibilities pile up, ministry becomes about tasks more than intimacy, and holiness becomes a performance rather than a persistent plea to our Heavenly Father. We can get busy defending the truth while forgetting to delight in the One who is the Truth. Sometimes pain or disappointment hardens our hearts. Other times, success can lull us into self-reliance. Before we know it, what started as faithful zeal has become a hamster wheel version of personal holiness than can have us feel like we are doing a lot for God, but drained in forgetting all that God has done, and is doing for us and in us.
Parallels in Scripture
The Old Testament echoes this struggle:
Jeremiah 2:2 compares Israel’s early devotion to a bride’s love for her husband.
Deuteronomy 6:5 commands wholehearted love for God.
Ezekiel 16:8–15 shows how Israel was cherished by God yet turned away.
The story is clear: God desires not just obedience, but obedience flowing from love that begins in recognizing the supremacy of His love.
Reflection: Are We Losing Our First Love?
It’s worth pausing to ask ourselves a few questions:
Has my faith become routine rather than relational?
Am I more focused on being “right” than being righteous?
Have prayer, Scripture, or worship turned into empty rituals instead of dwelling with God?
How can I fight spiritual complacency in my personal walk?
And for the church:
Do our gatherings feel more like activities than pursuit of Christ?
Are we strong in doctrine but weak in passion? Or strong in passion but lacking deep doctrine?
What changes might help us rekindle love for Jesus in our community?
Christ’s Call to Return
Jesus doesn’t just point out the problem—He gives the solution. To the Ephesian church (and us), He says:
Remember – Recall what your love for Christ was like at first.
Repent – Acknowledge where your passion has grown cold.
Return – Return to the practices that once fueled your love: time in prayer, Scripture, worship, sharing your faith.
If we ignore this, the consequence is real: losing spiritual influence and effectiveness. But even more than that, we miss the deep grace available to us in a life fully devoted to Christ our King: a heart pruned to Him, a mind set on Him, and a being bound to Him.
A Call to Prayer
Maybe this is where we need to start:
Ask God to reveal areas of apathy in our hearts.
Repent where we’ve grown cold.
Commit to rekindling love for Christ.
Pray for our churches to be marked not only by truth but also by passion.
And let’s keep this verse close to our hearts:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5