People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭
[Jesus speaking]
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 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. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Many of us are married and/or have experienced dating someone of the opposite sex. This time can be full of emotional memories, some of which are incredibly good. I remember courting my wife. Our relationship had an interesting beginning. We were introduced long-distance by our sisters-in-law. Cherish lives in Idaho and I was living near Newport Beach, CA. I got a call from my sister-in-law, Jennie, and she told me she was going to introduce me to the girl I was probably going to marry. I was 26 at the time, and had not had much success finding the right person to spend my life with. Cherish and I ended up getting married 11 months later. Praise God we have been married 23 years now (God found the most patient and gracious person on the planet to marry me)! I look back at that time I was dating Cherish, and there wasn’t anything I would not do to win her attention and love. I wrote her letters and shared my heart with her, I flew up to visit, I sang songs to her, and I wrote a poem about our relationship. Her beauty, inside and out, had captivated my heart.

And when I think about how Jesus received these babies and then the truth he tells us about them, it reminded me of this time. Children do not have many inhibitions. If they want something, they go for it. And they tell you they love you a lot! They want lots of hugs, kisses, and time together! Oh, the stories I have of the endless hours my kids have spent on magic tricks, riding bikes, practicing baseball or gymnastics, studying to get good grades, working a job to buy their first bike or hunting gun, etc. Jesus is using these children and their passionate pursuit of the things they want … to teach us a lesson: We should pursue God and his kingdom work in the same way. This is how we please him and build a relationship with him!

And the passage of caution to the church in Ephesus is telling: You have forsaken your FIRST LOVE! If I am honest, there have been times in my marriage I have forgotten and neglected loving my wife at the level of love she deserved, at the intensity and with the passion I loved her with at first.

How about my relationship with Jesus? Am I still as passionate today as I was when I first gave my heart to him? Do I pursue him with the same abandon with which I pursued my wife?

Lord, give me an increased passion and heart for dwelling with you and doing what pleases you. I want to love you consistently like I loved you at first! Teach me to love like a little child!