“You started off really strong and the middle section on the Holy Spirit felt a bit undeveloped,” read the professor’s comments on my midterm assignment. Not what I was hoping for, but it prompted me to reevaluate my paper and take steps to improve my work.

I wonder if that’s the reaction the church at Ephesus had when it received the letter from Jesus. Like my report, it started off well: “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” (Revelation 2:2-3. ESV)

Not bad so far, but then the dropkick comes next: “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (v. 4)

Like my midterm paper, they started well but then they drifted. The Apostle Paul had met with the elders of the Ephesian church on his way back to Jerusalem and he gave them some instructions. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert.” (Acts 20:28-31)

The Ephesian church had held fast to its doctrinal purity, but along the way it had lost its “first love.” (Revelation 2:4, KJV)

How do we lose our first love? We do so by getting so busy with “church” that we forget King Jesus, who has made us his own. We have lost the art of worship. In his book What Happened to Worship, author A. W. Tozer tells us: “Worship of the loving God is man’s whole reason for existence… The Christian church exists to worship God first of all.” When we fail to worship, we lose the sense of the nearness of God.

The Apostle James tells us to “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8, ESV) Worship is the means to drawing near to God. The Psalmist tells us God is “enthroned on the praises [‘inhabits,’ KJV] of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) The author of the Book of Hebrews closed his epistle by telling us to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Twenty years ago, I incorporated worship into my morning quiet time, and the experience has been transformational. Let me give you my layman’s definition of praise and worship. Praise is singing “about” God. Worship is singing “to” God. I start with praise, and I end with worship. My all-time favorite worship song is an old Maranatha! Music song, “I Love You Lord!”

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice,
To worship You, Oh my soul rejoice.
Take joy, my King, In what You hear,
May it be a sweet, sweet sound, in Your ear!

Jesus’s statement to the Samaritan woman is as valid today as the day He spoke it: “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

It’s time for the church to return to our first love, and worship is the highway to the Throne Room. There will be a final exam!

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!