WORSHIP

 WORSHIP

Revelation [MKJV 2:2-5] I know your works and your labor and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tried those pretending to be apostles, and are not, and have found them liars. And you have borne, and have patience, and for My name's sake you have labored and have not fainted. But I have against you that you left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.

  I like serving and feeling useful far better than being entertained any day! I have however learned that that zeal for entertainment or feeling useful may keep us from first love.

  When involved in serving God we can slowly become more involved in enjoyable service than love. Marriage is a perfect example of this at times. I had done this at times. It’s possible to love marriage without Biblically loving the one you’re married to. It’s possible to love churchiness and not Biblically love the Lord of church.

  How easy it is to enmesh one’s self in giving more thought and time, attitude, to happy service of people’s needs! . . . and unremarkably slip away from true Romans 12:1-3 worship of God.

  Thankfully, He gives call and allowance to return to Him.  

EBB4

From Albert Barnes notes on the Bible: Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee - Notwithstanding this general commendation, there are things which I cannot approve.

Because thou hast left thy first love - Thou hast “remitted” (ἀφῆκας aphēkas) or let down thy early love; that is, it is less glowing and ardent than it was at first. The love here referred to is evidently love to the Saviour; and the idea is, that, as a church, they had less of this than formerly characterized them. In this respect they were in a state of declension; and, though they still maintained the doctrines of His religion, and opposed the advocates of error, they showed less ardor of affection toward Him directly than they had formerly done.