To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.–Revelation 2:1-6
Lord Jesus, these are words You spoke almost 2000 years ago, but these are words You speak to us today because they are preserved for us as part of the Scripture. Give us ears to ear how Your Spirit is calling us back to You, so you might be our first Love.
Lord Jesus, many of us have worked . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have toiled . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have patiently endured . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have not borne with those who are evil . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have tested those who call themselves apostles . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us are bearing up for Your name's sake . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have not grown weary . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have hated the works of the Nicolatians . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy doing all
these works . . .
but have we loved You?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy doing all
these works . . .
but have we loved You?
have we abandoned our first Love?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy doing all
these works . . .
but have we loved You?
have we forgotten from where we have fallen?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy doing all
these works . . .
but have we loved You?
have we neglected to do the works we did at first?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy doing all
these works . . .
but have we loved You?
have we loved You as we did at first?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
Lord Jesus, many of us have been so busy
doing all these works . . .
but have we loved You?
have we ever truly loved You –
or have we only ever loved doing all these works?
Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for not loving You.
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.Lord Jesus, You consider loving You a serious business. Often times we do not see loving You as a serious business, instead we see our work for You as a serious business. Yes, we should work for You, but first and foremost You call us to love You.
We are often deceived. What we think to be love is only a false and cheap substitute for love. Instead of having a pure passionate living love for You, we end up engaging in false religion, a religion of externals, a dead religion of obligation and duty. Forgive us for abandoning You, our first Love, and loving false, external religion more than You. Forgive us for abandoning You, our first Love, and loving our work more than You.
When we do not love You as we ought, You call us to repentance. You tell us to do the works we did at first. Your words are clear to us: we have fallen if we are not loving You as we ought. Your words are clear to us: when we do not love You as we ought we are sinning. Your words are clear to us: You tell us You will remove our lampstand unless we repent. Show us our hearts. Show us how we failed to loved You as we ought. May Your kindness lead us to repentance and godly sorrow, so we might return to our first Love.
There are also some who have been in the visible church for years and they think they have loved You. They think they know You. They have worked diligently for You for years. Yet they have not truly loved You because they have not truly known You. They do not understand what it really means to sit at Your feet and wipe them with their tears. They have known all about You but have never entered into an intimate love relationship with You through the work of Your Holy Spirit. They have never known Your indwelling Spirit of love. Open their eyes, open their hearts, open their mouths, let them taste and see You are good. Lavish them with Your love, so they might truly love You in a way they never imagined.
Shine Your light on our hearts. Show us what kind of love we have for You for it is only then we can repent and turn to You, our first Love.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. 41 But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.–Luke 10:38-42
Take some time today from cease from all your work for Him. Sit down before Him, lie down before Him and do the one thing that is necessary. Ask Him to show you your heart for Him. Ask Him to show you where your love is not pure for Him. Ask Him to lead you to confession and repentance and restore you to your first Love.
Comments (2)
Lord, I am always so grateful in how you compliment the things that we do well, like this great church in Ephesus. You sent so many amazing apostles and teachers to them and they had a great start and did well for a long time. It is so kind of you to encourage us. We also thank you for your great mercy. You did not dump this Ephesian church, but gave them a second chance. I know You have given me many second chances because You love me so much. Thank You. I don't know Lord, but I hope the Ephesian church went back to the hot love they had for Jesus at the beginning. It is so easy to get into the church routine, and we need your gentle reminders from time to time. God of Love we thank you for Your great love for Your people. Help all Your true Believers to pay attention to their love levels for Jesus.
amen
@FRANK@revelife - Amen.
Father, thank You that You are a loving and merciful Father and You do not treat us as we deserve. You give us warnings when we sin. May we have ears to hear and repent and turn from our sin and run back into Your arms of love once more.
Thank You for not giving up on Moses who acted impulsively and killed the Egyptian.
Thank You for not giving up on Abram and Sarai when they went ahead and tried to produce an heir by works rather than trusting Your promise by faith.
Thank You for not giving up on Peter when he told You not to go to Jerusalem.
Thank You for not giving up on Peter who acted impulsively and cut off the High Priest's servant's ear.
Thank You for not giving up on Peter who denied you three times.
Thank You for not giving up on us!
Thank You for not giving up on me!
Thank You for continuing to call us back to love You.
Thank You for that You continue to stretch Your arms out to us all day long.
Thank You for Your manifold mercies that meet us no matter how far we have strayed from You.
Thank You for Your steadfast love that draws us back to You.
Father, Son and Spirit, we love You, but so often that love is so small. Your love for us is infinite. Increase our love for You. Return us and restore us once more to You, to our first Love. You alone are the Lover of our souls. You alone have loved us with an everlasting love. How great Your love for us! There are no real words to express You love for us. May Your Spirit speak the words I cannot write now. I can only adore You now, Lord God, and bask here in Your presence and in Your love...Amen.