None of us sets out with the intention of letting the fire within us dwindle, but if we’re not careful to continuously add fuel, the spark that God lit within us will quickly die out. This act of adding fuel can be deeply transformative, a chance to reconnect with the love that first beckoned us into communion with the God of the universe. It’s what we do each time we pray, each time we gather together to express our gratitude in worship, each time we serve one another in love, each time we search scripture for deeper truth. But what happens when the act of adding fuel becomes more of a chore than a daily offering of love?

The church of Ephesus found themselves in this very state (Revelation 2:1-7). The author of Revelation says that the people of the church of Ephesus had endured faithfully, had persevered without growing weary. The problem wasn’t what they were doing – in fact the author points to their deeds and hard work as a source of praise – but rather how they were doing it. In verse 4, after praising their patience and commitment, the author states “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen!”

The actual Greek translation is “You have lost your first love,” (2:4). They were going through the motions, adding the fuel without the passion that first ignited the fire. They had lost their motivation, their eagerness, and their purpose. But how do you restore eagerness? How do you find motivation and purpose once it has been lost? The author offers the solution in the very next verse: “Turn back to me and do the works you did at first,” (2:5).

It seems counterintuitive to do something old to inspire new passion, but the reality is that eagerness is about purpose. We’ve probably all experienced the hard truth that “what” without “why” becomes nothing more than a chore, but when “what” is coupled with “why,” it has the potential to ignite a passion that inspires, attracts, and sustains. This is what the author of Revelation is calling the church of Ephesus to: to remember their first love, to turn back to that love, to allow that love to lead them forward into a new passion.

Personal Practice: Since we began this journey with the altar of Elijah (1 Kings 18) try returning to the altar by preparing your own. It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as Elijah’s. You could pick a side table, or set aside some space on the mantle. You could prepare a space on your desk or dresser, or add something to your bathroom mirror or dashboard. Pick a bible verse, image, or object that reminds you of the love you first experienced through Christ, or the passion you once had. Place it in this sacred space and return to it throughout the week to renew your intention, asking God to create a new passion within you.

• How do you respond to the idea of looking back to move forward, of returning to something old to inspire something new?

• What originally drew you to faith?

• Has your faith ever felt like a chore? Like a “what” without a “why?”

• How can you return to the love that you first experienced in Christ to keep the fire of passion burning within you?