“King Solomon began well,” writes Dallas Willard.

“He prayed for wisdom and knowledge. God gave it to him. He became very great.… By the time he died, he had evolved a government that was bitterly oppressive, with the people ready to rebel, and he had a son to rule after him who was a fool.”

Then Dallas delivers this devastating line:

“It is not unreasonable to think that what really happened to Solomon was a building program.”

If you only read one thing from the newsletter this week, make it the essay from which that quote comes. Dallas was responding to the question, ​“Why do churches and ministries so often lose the essence of their founding vision?” 

The essay is relevant for all of us because it also answers, ​“Why do followers of Jesus lose their first love?” 

If I had to sum up the answer to those questions in a word?

Drift. 

One day we awake — if we’re graced with such an awakening — to find that service to Christ has replaced love of Christ. We find ourselves tending the fire of the mission rather than ​“the inner spiritual fire that keeps mission and ministry in its proper place.” 

So how do we recover our first love? 

Well, I recommend shame. We shame, shame, shame ourselves and others until we love God with our whole heart again. 

No. That, of course, is a horrible idea. It never works, but many of us for some reason keep toying with it. 

What does help rekindle love for God is a fresh vision of God’s goodness and God’s beauty, a glimpse of God’s heart, ​“an open wound of love.”

Gaining this fresh vision can’t be forced, but it can be cultivated. Time away can help, both in solitude and with others who desire renewal. That’s our intent for an upcoming pastor’s retreat, to create space where the beauty of Jesus can be rediscovered and the fire of the heart can be rekindled. 

fSo, Father, course-correct our drift by helping us to see you clearly again. Let our service to you flow out of our love for you and friendship with you.