Don’t Lose the Love

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:4-5 NKJV

In an article published by Runner's World Wednesday, runner Alex Predhome described explained the burnout many other runners experience and detailed how he got his “love of running” back.

After several years of heavy training and chasing ambitious times, I realized that I had lost touch with one of the most important ideas in running: Racing is a game, and running is supposed to be fun. I intuitively understood this as a kid, when I’d play tag, run after a ball, or race kids in school. I wasn’t overthinking it. I was just running and enjoying it.

A few years ago, my motivation was in the tank, and I wasn’t having fun. I was dealing with an odd case of sciatic nerve pain that derailed training. The discomfort caused me to miss workouts, and I was left in an injury purgatory, where I could run—but not really train—and eventually I had to pull out of the upcoming Boston Marathon.

After many doctor visits and strength sessions, the pain subsided. However, so did my enjoyment and fitness. I spent many runs worried about the pain returning and dwelling on lost time and opportunities. I kept thinking about why the pace data I saw on my watch felt so hard. Every run became confirmation that I wasn’t where I wanted to be instead of embracing where I was. I was miserable.

In time, I found a remedy in an unexpected place: a busy highway in Boston. 

And, you know, sadly, runners aren't the only people who gradually lose the love they once had for something. This was something the church at Ephesus had become known for, although they were doing a lot of things right. 

They worked hard, they persevered, and they stood for truth. Nevertheless, Jesus told them, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…”

They were still doing the work of God, but somewhere along the way, their relationship with God had lost its priority.

We can unintentionally do the same thing...

We get busy with work, family, ministry, responsibilities, running, and even serving God. Prayer then becomes shorter. Bible reading becomes something we need to “get done,” and worship becomes routine. 

Before long, we can be doing plenty for Jesus while spending very little time with Jesus. And before we know it, we’re miserable, and we may not even know why. 

But here's the thing, most of us don't intentionally walk away from our first love. We drift away slowly…one missed Bible study and one prayer at a time.

Thankfully though, Jesus gave us the remedy and the road back in Revelation 2:5:

Remember. Remember when your relationship with Christ was fresh and exciting. Remember what He has done for you and how much you once desired His presence.

Repent. Recognize what has taken His place and turn back toward Him.

Return. “Do the first works.” Pray. Read His Word. Worship. Spend time with Him—not because it is another item on your list, but because you love Him.

The lesson of Ephesus is simple: We mustn’t  confuse working for Jesus with walking with Jesus.

You see, sometimes we don't need another Bible study, another ministry activity, or another Christian obligation, we simply need to come back to Jesus and sit at His feet. We need to remember, repent, and return. 

So, ask yourself this today my friend, "Am I still pursuing Jesus with the same love and passion I once had, or have I allowed the busyness of life—even good things—to slowly take His place?" If something has taken His place, pursue Jesus with the reckless abandon you did the day He changed your life. And keep pursuing Him and putting Him first until the day He calls you home, tenaciously intent on keeping the love alive and growing. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God who never gives up on us. Lord, if we have lost some of the fervor and fire we once had for You, please convict our hearts of our drifting and spur them to remember how it felt when we first met You. Lord, help us then to repent of our backsliding, and to return to You with our whole hearts. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Stay on the Offensive

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-2 NKJV

In an astonishing story published by Canadian Running Magazine, it was reported that Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa took the women’s title in 2:11:04 at the Berlin Marathon over the weekend. It’s said conditions were sunny with little wind, though it was still warm.

Assefa was aiming to beat Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 world record,..

Assefa had previously held the women’s world record after running 2:11:53 in Berlin in 2023, a time that remained the course record until Sunday. She was still running under world-record pace at 40 km, with an estimated finish time of 2:09:44. In the final two km, Assefa’s pace slowed and she began visibly limping. She ran that last stretch in 8:04, before crossing the line in 2:11:04.

Assefa’s time was 68 seconds outside Chepngetich’s world record, but 49 seconds faster than her previous best. It’s also the third-fastest women’s marathon ever, behind Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 and Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfay’s 2:10:51 from Barcelona earlier this year. Assefa now owns the third- and fourth-fastest marathon times in history. 

Post-race, Assefa skipped the podium ceremony and was flown to Munich for emergency assessment of a suspected Achilles tear, according to PuraVida Sports Africa. Her management team said she will undergo imaging to determine the extent of the injury.

And you know, in the same way this story highlights how quickly a person can go from a mountain top experience (where the conditions are sunny with a little wind) to the valley (where the conditions are less than desirable), the story of the temptation of Jesus confirms just how unexpectedly and rapidly our surrounding circumstances can change. 

In Matthew 3 we are given the story of Jesus’ being publicly baptized by John the Baptist and then being commended by the Father. Talk about a mountain top experience!

Immediately following this, though, circumstances changed and “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:8-10

The devil then attempted to bait and beguile Jesus three different times as we see in the next chapter. But in response to each temptation, Jesus yielded the sword of the Spirit and declared, “It is written” and followed His statement with the exact Scripture that would tear down the individual lies and the overall deception of the enemy. 
In this way, Jesus rejected temptation and was victorious over the devil by using the only offensive weapon God has given each and every believer. 

So, if "staying on the offensive" means "remaining proactive, taking the initiative, and keeping constant forward pressure instead of waiting to react to challenges," let us vow to stay on the offensive by knowing God‘s word, being ready for the schemes of the devil at all times, and being especially vigilant after mountain top experiences. 

In this way, you and I will be protected from incoming attacks and be ready to confront opposition by following the example of Jesus, saying, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written..." 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

After all, the only way to win at spiritual warfare is to fight it with spiritual weapons--weapons that "are not carnal but mighty in God... "

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the devil is on the attack at all times, but is especially ready to pounce after a mountain top experience. Help us Lord to always be ready for these attacks by always being shod with the full armor of God and knowing the Truth. Help us to train like a good soldier who makes himself battle ready each and every day, no matter the conditions. Help us to be ready so that we will not be caught unaware. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!