by Bruce Larson
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It's interesting to observe how love in a marriage can begin fervent, but after a few years become cold and indifferent. The first year of marriage the husband says, "Sugar, I'm worried about my little baby girl. You've got a bad sniffle. I want to put you in the hospital for a complete checkup. I know the food is lousy, but I've arranged for your meals to be sent up from Rossini's. It's all arranged." The second year: "Listen, honey, I don't like the sound of that cough. I've called Doctor Miller and he's going to rush right over. Now will you go to bed like a good girl just for me, please?" The third year: "Maybe you'd better lie down, honey. Nothing like a little rest if you're feeling bad. I'll bring you something to eat. Have we got any soup in the house?" The fourth year: "Look, dear. Be sensible. After you've fed the kids and washed the dishes you'd better hit the sack." The fifth year: "Why don't you take a couple of aspirin?" The sixth year: "If you'd just gargle or something, instead of sitting around barking like a seal!" The seventh year: "For heaven's sake, stop sneezing! What are you trying to do, give me pneumonia?" As Christians we start out serving the Lord with vigor and zeal. When we become born again, our lives become new and we are excited about doing something for God. We loved Him with all our heart, soul and mind. But then after a few years our love became more indifferent, even to the point of growing cold. There is portion of scripture in the book of Revelation concerning a church that had grown cold and indifferent. God told the church of Ephesus that they had left their first love. He commended them for their hard work and patience, but He said, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." It seemed they had lost their zeal and joy while serving the Lord. Now they were laboring faithfully, but only out of a sense of duty or obligation. As Christians we must be careful to keep our love for Christ fresh and new. It's easy to get so involved in the work of Christ until we lose our love for Him. Paul said, "For the love of Christ constrains us." Or, it is because of his love that compels me to serve him. Not from a sense of duty or obligation, but it is His great love for me that causes me to give my best to Him. When I begin to lose faith, zeal and fervency in living for God, I remind myself of His great love for me, and the price He paid for my salvation on the cross of Calvary. Let us not lose our love for Christ. Our love for Him should grow stronger each day. Jesus told the church of Ephesus, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." We must somehow try to remember where it was along the way that our love for Him began to falter. Then we must renew our love for Him. Matthew 22:37 says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." When you work for God simply because you love Him, your joy will be full and your labor will not be in vain in the Lord.
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