The Three Rs of Getting Right with God

When someone backslides or turns away from God, it generally isn’t something they do overnight. Instead, it’s a little compromise here, a little lowering their guard there. And the next thing they know, they’re slipping.

That’s what was happening to the believers in Ephesus. Jesus told them, “You have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 NKJV).

This is the first step to falling away. These Christians had traded their devotion and replaced it with duty. They had motion, but they lost the emotion. They had labor, but they lost the love. They had perspiration, but they didn’t seem to have inspiration.

Yet Jesus didn’t simply tell them what was wrong. He told them what to do to make it right: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (verse 5 NKJV). In this verse we see three Rs for getting right with God: remember, repent, and repeat.

First, we need to remember: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen.” We could translate this to say, “Keep on remembering.” Remember where you were when you were at your highest point of commitment to Christ, and go back to that place. It’s your point of reference.

Next, we need to repent. If there was a time when you were closer to God than you are right now, repent. Admit that you’re not as close to the Lord as you want to be.

Last, we need to repeat. Jesus said, “Do the first works” (verse 5 NKJV). What is it that you used to do when your relationship with Jesus was stronger? Maybe you read your Bible every day and listened to praise music and to Bible-teaching podcasts. Maybe you shared the gospel whenever you could. Start doing those things again.

If you’re not moving forward and cultivating your relationship with the Lord, then your spiritual life will come to a standstill.

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