There is something beautiful about simple devotion to Jesus.

Not polished religion. Not performance. Not becoming so mature that we lose our tenderness toward Him. Sometimes in growth and maturity, if we are not careful, we can become impressed with our own growth. We know the language, the Scriptures, the systems, the church culture. We know how to “do ministry.” Yet somewhere along the way, passion quietly fades. Wonder drifts. Tenderness weakens. We become experienced but not always intimate. Paul warned about this in 2 Corinthians 11:3 when he said:

“I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

That phrase ministers deeply to me: the simplicity of devotion to Christ. The simple romance. The tenderness. The humility. The awe of loving Jesus. Do not get too grown for passion. There is a place in God where your heart still burns when His Word is opened. A place where worship is not routine. A place where tears still come because His presence means something to you. A place where you still love sitting at His feet more than being seen by people.

In The Book of Revelation 2, Jesus speaks to the church at Ephesus. He acknowledged their labor, endurance, discernment, and faithfulness. They were doing many things right externally, but Heaven saw something missing internally. They had left their first love. Notice Jesus did not tell them to feel something first. He told them to remember, repent, and return.

“Do the things you did at first.”

This is important because returning to first love is not a sensation but it is a decision. Obedience comes before emotion. Sometimes you worship before you feel goosebumps. Sometimes you pray because you love Him even when your feelings feel quiet. Passion is protected through pursuit.

The Ten Virgins: Prepared Hearts

In The Gospel of Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of the ten virgins.

All ten had lamps.
All ten had oil.
All ten expected the bridegroom.
All ten were waiting.
All ten even fell asleep.

The difference was not appearance. The difference was preparation. Five were wise because they carried extra oil. Oil throughout Scripture represents intimacy, consecration, and the work of the Holy Spirit. The wise virgins were prepared before the announcement came. Midnight in the story represents dark seasons, unexpected moments, delays, uncertainty, and testing seasons. It represents moments when faith is challenged and comfort disappears.

Yet the wise were ready before the cry rang out:

“Behold, the bridegroom is coming!”

Jesus was teaching us something powerful: do not wait until midnight to seek oil. Do not wait until crisis to pray.
Do not wait until trouble to worship. Do not wait until culture grows darker to decide you belong to Jesus. Keep oil in your lamp now.

Josiah: A Picture of First Love

One of the clearest examples in Scripture of someone with spiritual oil is Josiah in 2 Kings 22–23. Josiah was a young leader living in a broken culture, yet he chose obedience and wholehearted devotion to God. His story shows what happens when someone returns to the Word of God and allows it to transform not only their own life, but an entire nation. Josiah loved the house of God.

In chapter 22, he ordered repairs to the Temple because it had been neglected. When you love God, you care about the things of God. You honor His presence, His house, His people, and His ways. While repairing the Temple, the priests discovered the Book of the Law. The Word of God had been neglected and forgotten. Can you imagine that? The Word buried beneath the rubble of neglect. But when the Word was read to Josiah, his response was humility. He tore his robes in grief and repentance because he realized how far the people had drifted from God. His humility stands out to me.

He did not argue with the Word.
He did not excuse compromise.
He did not justify sin.
He allowed the Word to search his heart and transform him.

One of the greatest signs of maturity is letting the Word correct you. Josiah understood the problem was not that God had failed His people. The people had abandoned God. So Josiah began tearing down idols, removing compromise, cleansing the land, and calling people back to covenant with the Father.

That is first love.
First love tears down idols.
First love removes compromise.
First love returns to covenant.
First love honors the presence of God again.

Josiah did not just privately love God; he publicly led others toward Him.

That is leadership.
Not perfection.
Not performance.
But publicly pursuing God in a way that points others back to Him.

Revival Begins With Remembrance

One of the most beautiful parts of Josiah’s story is when Passover was restored.

The people remembered again. They remembered God’s faithfulness. They remembered His delivering power.
They remembered His covenant. Revival often begins when people return to remembrance. When hearts remember who God is, passion awakens again.

2 Kings 23:25 says:

“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength.”

That echoes the words of Jesus:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

This is the call of first love. Not halfway devotion. Not casual Christianity. Not empty lamps with no oil. But wholehearted love for Jesus.

Get Your Love Back

Maybe you have been serving faithfully but your passion has grown quiet. Maybe life became busy. Maybe responsibility replaced tenderness. Maybe ministry became work instead of wonder.

Jesus still lovingly calls:
Remember. Repent. Return.

Get your love back.

Go back to sitting with Him.
Go back to loving His Word.
Go back to worshiping with tears in your eyes.
Go back to childlike faith.
Go back to awe.
Go back to oil.

Because the Bridegroom is coming. Heaven is looking for people whose lamps are burning. He is looking for First Love!