FINDING THAT FIRST LOVE AGAIN
Revelation 2:1-6 CSB
1 "Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Sorry, but I will not be revealing any stories concerning my first romantic love. It was way too long ago. But in His message to the church, Jesus mentions the love the church at Ephesus had at the first and His desire that that abandoned love be renewed.
Our verses for today concern the first of seven messages that Jesus wanted relayed to the seven churches. The message was directed to the angel of the church at Ephesus. The word 'angel' is better translated as 'messenger,' which would indicate an individual person, not an angelic being. Jesus said He knew some things about this church. He knew what they were doing. He knew how hard they were working and their endurance. He also knew and noted the church's refusal to accept people who claimed to be apostles but were liars.
The message to us is to note what Jesus called out, what He appreciates, and what He does not like. Remember that Jesus has not changed. He is not moved by the whims of man and culture; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus appreciated the fact that the believers in Ephesus had gone through some difficult times but had not given up or grown weary. Jesus appreciates those who stay faithful and don't quit during difficult times, especially when these difficult times were because of His name's sake. Their identity with Jesus caused the hard times, but Jesus noted their no-quit attitude.
But He did have something He was not happy about. The change in tone indicated that the things He attributed to the church in Ephesus in the first three verses were the things that pleased Him. But He was not pleased with the fact that the love they had for Him, for God, at the beginning of their walk had grown dim. The answer for their reduced love was to repent or turn from their ways and do the things they did when they first started walking with the Lord.
Jesus did mention that He appreciated the fact that this church did not buy into the practices of the Nicolaitans. We are not given much concerning who this group was, but evidently, the Nicolaitans were leading people down a path of immorality. This path would lead them away from the Lord, and Jesus was having none of it.
APPLICATION
When reading these first few chapters of Revelation, pay close attention to the things Jesus praises and the things that do not make Him happy. He is pleased when we keep our love for Him and the things of God burning brightly. Many of us can remember how we were when we first made Jesus our Lord and Savior. There was an excitement and desire to learn and grow. Church was fun, not a drudgery, and there was a sense of purpose in our lives. We can get back to that place of excitement in the Lord, but we'll have to turn from the things that dulled us and profess our love and appreciation for the Lord and for His things. We love reading our Bibles. We love praying and spending time with the Lord. We love church and our fellow believers. First love is exciting and thank God we can reignite our desire and love for Him.
PRAYER
Lord, help me find that first love and desire for You. When all is said and done, You are what matters most!