May 13, 2025

What do you think Yeshua means, your “first love?” I can’t say that I know for certain, but knowing what He said in Matthew 6:33,  “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…;” and placing emphasis on loving Yahweh with all one’s heart...:

When Yeshua had just finished confounding the Pharisees, a sage/teacher of the Law, asked Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” “Jesus said to him ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.” mat 22:37-38 nkjv

He also said, “If you love me, keep my commandments…” jn 14:15 nkjv

Given that Yeshua told the Church at Ephesus, “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.” rev 2:5 nkjv  I would be concerned that we are dealing with a very serious admonition… which yet applies to the “churches” today, I think. Actually, I think I can say it applies to each of us as well. Something to think seriously about.

Yahweh gave the Children of Israel the complete Torah at Mt Sinai; Moses records this in Deuteronomy 30:11-20;  one translation subtitle calls these verses: "The Choice of Life or Death:"

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”   Notably, Yahweh cautioned them not to add to nor take from the Words of the Torah… deut 4:2.   I think it is amazing how this warning is disregarded among “believers” today, and always has been treated with disdain.

Lets look at words Paul uses to reflect upon some of the verses above, “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” rom 10:5-10 nkjv

Notice in both the Torah and Paul’s teaching to believers at Rome, it’s about the Word that, “the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” When you go on reading Paul’s comments, in Romans 10:14-21,  you will notice he quotes Isaiah concerning the unfaithfulness of the Children of Israel… The writer of Hebrews says the same gospel was preached to the Children of Israel as was to us: “…but it was not mixed with faith.” heb 4:2  Paul says in rom 10:17,  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We know from The Bible that the Children of Israel said they “would do” the things Yahweh expected of them… they did not. We know that turned out very bad for them. What about the modern “believer” who has the same careless attitude concerning the “we will do” confession made to be saved by the blood of Yeshua [the New Covenant]?

“ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” heb 10:28-30 nkjv   I suggest that perhaps falling away from one’s “first love,” either in Moses time or in our time… gets the same judgment… just saying.

Here’s my main point… it seems to me the cause of a believer leaving their first love, came about by distractions that “little by little,” ate away at their initial commitment and confessions of “we will do,” and I think when you study the Bible you see the common thread being idolatry, and cultural attractions. There are many ways idolatry manifests in people’s lives, but it most likely will include cultural attraction as well. We sometimes think, “well I don’t have wooden and metal figures and worship them…” really; I suggest our idols are in the form of distractions as well. Whatever you give you attention to vigorously, preferably, and habitually, that pushes Yahweh aside and brings in other more interesting and attractive pursuits is an idol…

Romans 10:17  says “faith” comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Let me suggest you examine the other side of that coin, “faith leaves by not hearing, not hearing the Word of God.” Hearing Yahweh’s Word, by reading it and prayerfully studying it, is what the sages call the highest form of worship… consider that. So then it wold seem that many have left their first love for other more interesting and pleasurable “preferable” things… the Devil is very clever, he comes to kill, steal, and destroy… mostly your time with Yahweh and your exercising your love for Him in sincere regular fellowship with Him… “seek ye first the Kingdom of God.”

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” isa 55:6-7 nkjv

Shalom, John