As Christians it can be easy to fall into the trap of “doing church.” You show up, serve, sing the songs, and check the boxes, but deep down, something is missing. Jesus warned the church of Ephesus about this very thing—doing all the right activities while losing their first love. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:4-5). We can get so caught up in the motions of religious routine that we miss out on the vibrant, intimate relationship Christ desires with us.

When we lose that first love, our faith becomes a checklist rather than a life-giving relationship. We go through the motions without experiencing the peace, joy, and fire that comes from truly abiding in Jesus. Christ didn’t die for us to be mere workers; He died so we could be His beloved. He wants our hearts, not just our actions.

But here’s the good news: it’s never too late to reignite that love. Jesus calls us back to intimacy with Him—where real joy and peace live. When we let go of performance-based faith and return to sitting at His feet, everything changes. It's time to stop going through the motions and rekindle that first love for Jesus.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” –James 4:8