Thou Hast Left Thy First Love
C.H. Spurgeon's sermon calls believers to reflect on their initial love for Christ and to rekindle that passion in their lives.
C.H. Spurgeon reflects on the profound joy and transformation experienced when one first encounters the Lord, emphasizing the vibrant spiritual renewal that follows salvation. He laments how, over time, this initial fervor can fade, leading to a coldness in devotion and service to God. Spurgeon urges believers to remember their first love for Christ and to rekindle that passion, warning against complacency and ingratitude for God's blessings. He calls for a return to the fervent commitment and joyful service that characterized their early faith, asking God to revive their hearts and restore their zeal.
Text
Ever to be remembered is that best and brightest of hours, when first we saw the Lord, lost our burden, received the roll of promise, rejoiced in full salvation, and went on our way in peace. It was spring time in the soul; the winter was past; the mutterings of Sinai's thunders were hushed; the flashings of its lightnings were no more perceived; God was beheld as reconciled; the law threatened no vengeance, justice demanded no punishment. Then the flowers appeared in our heart; hope, love, peace, and patience sprung from the sod; the hyacinth of repentance, the snowdrop of pure holiness, the crocus of golden faith, the daffodil of early love, all decked the garden of the soul.
The time of the singing of birds was come, and we rejoiced with thanksgiving; we magnified the holy name of our forgiving God, and our resolve was, "Lord, I am Thine, wholly Thine; all I am, and all I have, I would devote to Thee. Thou hast brought me with Thy blood--let me spend myself and be spent in Thy service. In life and in death let me be consecrated to Thee." How have we kept this resolve? Our espousal love burned with a holy flame of devoutedness to Jesus--is it the same now?
Might not Jesus well say to us, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left they first love"? Alas! it is but little we have done for our Master's glory. Our winter has lasted all too long. We are as cold as ice when we should feel a summer's glow and bloom with sacred flowers. We give to God pence when He deserveth pounds, nay, deserveth our heart's blood to be coined in the service of His church and of His truth. But shall we continue thus? O Lord, after Thou hast so richly blessed us, shall we be ungrateful and become indifferent to Thy good cause and work? O quicken us that we may return to our first love, and do our first works! Send us a genial spring, O Sun of Righteousness.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The memory of our first encounter with Christ
- The joy of salvation and reconciliation
- The transformation of the soul
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II
- The flourishing of spiritual virtues
- The commitment to serve God
- The resolve to be wholly devoted
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III
- The danger of losing our first love
- The call to rekindle our devotion
- The consequences of spiritual indifference
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IV
- The need for a spiritual revival
- The importance of gratitude in our walk with God
- The plea for divine intervention
Key Quotes
“O Lord, after Thou hast so richly blessed us, shall we be ungrateful and become indifferent to Thy good cause and work?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Our espousal love burned with a holy flame of devoutedness to Jesus--is it the same now?” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Send us a genial spring, O Sun of Righteousness.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Regularly evaluate your spiritual fervor and commitment to God.
- Engage in acts of service that reflect your love for Christ.
- Cultivate a heart of gratitude to maintain a vibrant relationship with God.