Revelation 2:5: “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.”

August 26th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Jesus tells us that when we find ourselves far from Him, we should do 3 things to get back to Him: remember, repent, and return. Most of the time we know where something we lost is because it is usually wherever we left it. If we lose our cell phone, it is waiting wherever we left it or wherever we had it last. We just have to remember where we last had it. That is also a great truth concerning our love for God. If we have misplaced our love for Him, it is wherever we left it last. Where was the last time we were touched by the incredible love of God? Wherever that was, if we’ve lost it, it is still there, because God hasn’t moved. Our heavenly Father is waiting for us to remember Him and go back and get reacquainted with Him.

He tells us how to get back, “repent and do the first works.” When we repent, we look at our sin, see how ugly it is, don’t blame it on someone or something else, simply face the reality of it, and turn around. When we say, “Lord I can’t carry it any longer because it is getting too heavy for me,” He takes it. And we find ourselves wanting to do the things we did when we first came to Him.

On the road of life, this critical “narrow gate,” called repentance, is an oft-needed path back to God for every single person. It is interesting that it is the identical gate we first used when we originally came to surrender and believe. The truth is that believers fall much more often than any of us would like to admit. But simple humility and confession is what God requires. He has already taken the punishment we deserved on the cross. When the tax collector said a simple one-sentence prayer of repentance, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13), Jesus said he was “justified.” It was also a one-sentence prayer that brought the thief on the cross the forgiveness and salvation he needed: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (23:42). One sentence?! And Jesus responded, “today you will be with Me in Paradise” (v. 43). How simple God has made it for us.

“LORD, we thank You that You have made the way back to You so simple. All we have to do is remember, repent, and do again the things we did when we first came to You.”