Sunday, July 8, 2012 | By: What

Coming back to your first love

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

' I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.' " - Rev 2:2-5

Let's get this straight.

The congregation in Ephesus toiled, persevered, did not tolerate evil, tested the apostle's teachings, endured for Christ, have not grown weary - and still..

God had this one thing against this amazing church that birthed one of the greatest Pauline epistles -

God wasn't happy they left their first love.

The NLT quotes :

"But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!"

How did the Ephesian church loved God at first?

"Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you" - Eph 1:15

This was the first love that the church in Ephesus forsook. These were the deeds that God asked the church to start doing again!

Yes, the Ephesians defended the faith fervently, but something was amiss. I think there was probably a lot of head knowledge but a lack of heart knowledge.

It's just like a doctor who is well versed in the knowledge of medicine, defending what is right but lack the practice of treating patients.

They were so active in defending their theology, fighting heresy that they forgot the heart of the gospel is to love God and people. Let us not forget that.

"Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Cor 13:13