Has The Place Where You Worship Lost Its First Love?
Good Morning Friends,
Christ’s admonition: “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches” is repeated within the message to each congregation in the book of Revelation. So it would seem that though it is clearly a warning to those specific congregations, it also carries a warning that has a much broader application. So today we look at the warning to the Church in Ephesus and consider its message for us today. Here it becomes clearer that the journey into evil starts by taking little steps into the grey areas so it almost goes unnoticed. Here we contemplate the state of what is happening today and tend to believe that the advice given by Jesus for Christians was given for a reason. Friends, people are confused but this is clear. We all need to receive and share more of that which God brings into our lives. Has The Place Where You Worship Lost Its First Love?
Scripture: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what 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. Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:1-7 (NRSV)
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.
Romans 9:1-3 (NRSV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NRSV)
Message: The cultural and economic subversion of the Biblical faith is really pretty frightening. Over the years so much has changed, and one has to wonder if our institutions and practices today are characterized by true Biblical faith led by faithful apostles with whom Jesus would not take issue. Though Jesus might praise much of what we do, perhaps God would challenge us today as was done with the Church in Ephesus. And that brings us to the important consideration for God’s people today, the warning to return to our “first love.” Now I do not know what you think this refers to, but it seems to me to be about love for and among our spiritual friends and for our enthusiasm in doing the work of God. It does not mean we are without love. The warning is about our love not being focused on God’s love of Jesus and the cross. So we are to love in unity beyond denominations, yet honestly the longer we remain in the Church, the more opportunities we have for anger, grudges and cynicism. Maybe that is why there are so many who claim no religion. Institutions carry so much baggage that their members find it difficult to love. Some distrust organizations, ministers or anyone who tries to approach them with religion. Some blame human mistakes on God instead of realizing all humans will make mistakes. The honorable, godly quest is for humans to strive to do better. And that brings us to today’s focus of learning in love to forgive and be forgiven. Friends, real church is a place for people who are striving to continually change and grow into the perfect spiritual family of God. The major admonition of this message to Ephesus is to hold on to our first love. If we have lost it, Jesus tells us to repent and recapture it. Thankfully this passage also carries the inspiring message that this can be done. Christ would not ask us to do something that is impossible. So in order to apply this message, we need to examine ourselves to see if we are maintaining the same excitement, participation, prayer, Bible study, humility, teachable spirit, service and love to which we have been called. That friends, is the work of those who follow Jesus. And to those who overcome the challenges and persevere, they will succeed where the first Adam failed. Friends, we are on the verge of a New Reformation where the Gospel needs to be preached. It is not good enough to hold on until Christ returns. We are to repent for not having loved.
Pray we never lose our excitement and zeal for doing God’s work. Pray we not compromise God’s instructions. Pray we not be about conquering and subduing people but raising them up to honor God. Pray we put the right to living in the love of Christ above all else. Pray we not forget the times we have been forgiven. Pray we not forget the first time we fell head over heels in love. Pray we have a humble and teachable spirit. Pray we have an eagerness to participate in everything related to the Church. Pray we are vulnerable enough to learn to love and serve. Pray our first love takes our mountains of troubles and turns them into hills for us to climb. Pray that our first love takes our rivers of grief and worry and help us understand that with God we can swim. Pray our first love helps us to see with the eyes of God’s love. Pray we take and eat and taste and see the love that brought us to God. Pray the Kingdom lives on…the Church lives on in the first work of love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 