Faithful Hands, Wandering Heart: Return to Your First Love

It’s very possible to be busy for God yet distant from Him. In Revelation 2:2-4, Jesus commend the church in Ephesus for their faithful hard work, perseverance, and commitment to sound doctrine.

They were diligent in their service, standing firm against false teachings, and enduring trials for His name.

Yet, despite their devotion in action, Jesus had one thing against them: they had abandoned their first love.

In my previous post, I shared how love is best expressed through actions, not just words, based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 . It seems that, as humans, we tend to value love more when it is demonstrated rather than just felt in the heart. Perhaps this is because we can only see outward actions, while the true condition of the heart remains hidden..

When it comes to Love for God the passion on the inside is actually important. Jesus gave us an expo in Matthew 22:37 And He said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.

What does it even mean to love the Lord this way?

With All Your Heart ❤️
The heart represents our emotions, desires, and affections. Loving God with all our heart means He is our first love, our greatest treasure, and the source of our deepest joy. It involves sincerity, devotion, and an emotional connection to God.

With All Your Soul 🕊️
The soul refers to our inner being, our identity, and our spiritual life. Loving God with all our soul means surrendering our will to Him and finding our purpose in Him. It requires faithfulness, perseverance, and a deep commitment that withstands trials.

With All Your Mind 🧠
The mind represents our intellect, thoughts, and understanding. Loving God with all our mind means seeking to know Him through His Word, meditating on His truth, and aligning our thinking with His truth. It involves studying Scripture, applying wisdom, and rejecting lies or distractions that pull us away from Him.

In Practical Terms:

• Prioritizing God above all else. God does not want to share us with anyone or anything outside His will for us.
• Aligning our desires, decisions, and actions with His will.
• Trusting and worshiping Him with our emotions, identity, and intellect.

You may be doing God’s work—hating evil, fighting for justice, and testing the works of others, proving them guilty when necessary. Yet, in the midst of all this, there’s a disconnect in your personal relationship with Him. You no longer prioritize spending time with Him.

I remember the first time I fell in love with Jesus. My heart was completely His. I constantly thought about what it would be like to finally meet Him face to face. I eagerly looked forward to that moment. Every thought, every plan revolved around Him. I longed to bring Him joy and was careful not to displease or disappoint Him. It was all about us—no one else.

Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed thinking only about others—how to make them follow Him, how their behavior offends Him, or how you can’t tolerate certain attitudes. Yes, those things matter, but your relationship with God must come first. Every day, before anything else, make it about you, and Jesus.

I pray this stirs something in your heart, just as it did in mine, so you can return to your first love—Jesus Christ—and love Him as He deserves.

Shalom!