remember. repent. repeat.

 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."

Revelation 2:4

I know, I am an English major & my title for this post seems a little odd. Remember. Repent. Repeat. The title is more than three words, it's three imparative commands. Three "thou shalts", if you will. But here, I'm getting ahead of myself, let me give you some context. Last week we had spring revival services on campus with Dr. Tom Farrell. Though I have grown up under the preaching of this amazing man of God, I always know that the Lord will challenge me to change through Dr. Farrell's messages. This past week was no different.

On Monday, January 11, Dr. Farrell spoke on "The Danger of Desertion" from Revelation 2:4. His challenge: "have you left your first Love?" He introduced the answer of this question with an equation: Life - Love = NOTHING. Not the love of one man to another, though, as Christians, we are required to do so, but the love that I, a wretched sinner, show to my glorious Savior, Christ.

I am not articulate enough to persuade you with the passion of Dr. Farrell, but I will share with you his answer to "how would you know if you had left your first love?"

1. A coolness towards the Savior
   "You will never work right until you worship right."
2. A caulousness about sin
   "Can I prove by my watcing & listening that I really LOVE Christ?"
3. A contendtedness about self
   "The closer you get to Jesus the less you will love yourself."
   "Am I abhoring any & all sin that God points out?"
4. A carelessness about souls
   "Here, read this & meet me in heaven someday."
5. A contendedness among the saints
   The church belongs to Christ. I am honored to serve in it.
   

Dr. Farrell closed by challenging us with those three imparatives: Remember. Repent. Repeat. The irony of the message really hit me when I got back to my room to do my devotions. What should my devotions be but Revelation 2?! God prepared my heart for my devotions as Dr. Farrell preached.

So, next time you read Revelation 2:4, ask yourself, "have I left my first love?" If the answer is yes, evaluate yourself, remember who God is, repent, &, if needed, repeat.