“You just slip out the back, Jack . . . Make a new plan, Stan . . . You don’t need to be coy, Roy . . . Just get yourself free . . . Hop on the bus, Gus . . . You don’t need to discuss much . . . Just drop off the key, Lee . . . And get yourself free . . . There must be fifty ways to leave your lover” (Paul Simon, 1975)

This song from my high school days came to mind as I was reading Revelation 2 . . . you probably can guess why. The church of Ephesus was a happenin’ place. They worked and labored hard for the Lord . . . had lots of Bible studies and knew their Word . . . had no tolerance of false teaching and called fake messengers of God out for what they were — liars. They faithfully and patiently kept on keepin’ on, not growing weary, as they served Jesus.

Things were looking good . . . but He who walks in the midst of the churches (Rev. 1:20, 2:1), had something against them . . . something they had to deal with . . . “Nevertheless,” says the Lord, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). And as I think about it, there really must be 50 ways to leave your lover.

They were doing the works . . . they were standing for the faith . . . and, I think, it was more than just going through the motions . . . I think they were sincere and serious about their faith. But, apparently you can do all the right stuff and not do it from the right place. You can do it as part of routine . . . you can do it because you think it earns heavenly brownie points . . . you can do it ’cause your friends are doing it. But Jesus, it seems, wants us doing it out of “first love.”

All the right stuff we do, we should be doing because we are crazy in love with Jesus. It shouldn’t be just a “good habit” . . . it shouldn’t be just a “spiritual discipline” . . . it shouldn’t be just a “good testimony” . . . it shouldn’t be just about “doing the right thing ’cause it’s right thing to do” . . . it should be an offering poured out from a heart that loves Him because He first loved us.

And I don’t know how you read this and not think that passion is part of the deal. Though it may be orthodox . . . or biblical . . . passionate-less Christianity falls short of what I think the Savior wants from His people. And I don’t think we need to manufacture the passion or put it on . . . I think it resides within us. The issue is that we’ve found ways to leave our lover . . . or, to use a more biblical phrase, quench the Holy Spirit . . . to put out His fire (1Thess. 5:19).

We can do the Christian good works and not pursue feeding the fire of an intimate relationship with Jesus through the indwelling Spirit. We spend time at church . . . spend time at seminars . . . spend time reading books . . . spend time serving at this ministry or that ministry . . . but not spending time with the one to whom we are betrothed. When we’re away from the church activities or ministries we’re opting for the TV . . . or the computer game . . . or the hobby . . . over time with Him. Faithful in Christian works . . . but flakey in pursuing Christ. He wants us to serve Him out of a vital and passionate and crazy in love relationship with Himself . . . I don’t know how you do that without alone time with Him and His word. Oh, that we would desire to love Him . . . and pursue our relationship with Him. That we would hear the voice of our Beloved calling us back to intimate fellowship with Himself . . . that we would beware of and say no to all the ways to leave your lover.

Oh, how I love Jesus . . . forgive me Father for allowing other things to distract me from Him . . . keep me from just faithfully going through the motions, but may everything I do for Him, truly be born out of a Spirit-filled love for Him. Thank you for Your patience with me . . . thank You for your grace . .. thank You for calling me back to Yourself through Your word.