Steve Grant
Series in Revelation
Performance Review Of The Churches, Part 1: Ephesus
Revelation 2:1-7
5 March 2017
Here we see that Christ reviews the Ephesian church - but not as we might review it. He looks at the internal heart of the church, and the motives of the people who gather. His review is as much a word to churches today.
Christ opens by commending the Ephesians for their work, and for persevering. They toiled for Christ, and did not welcome false religions (v. 6). "But this I have against you, that you left your first love." Although the Ephesians were serving Christ, their passion for Him had grown cold. We lose our first love when we love the things we do for Christ more than Christ Himself. It is possible to do all the right things and yet not out of the right motives.
We are called to remember from where we have fallen. Do we have the same love for Christ as we did when we were first saved?
We are called to repent, and turn back to God. Our doctrine can be right, and yet our hearts so cold if we do not love Christ. He warns the Ephesian church that they may cease to be a light for Him in the world if they continue in this way.
We are called to return, and do what we did at first. It means remembering how much we loved Jesus, and doing what we did back then.
Is it possible that we are forsaking our first love? Then let us return to Him again.