A church can work hard, hold the right beliefs, and still leave its first love.
This is a letter Jesus sent to a real church. It was a good church by most measures: hard-working, patient, careful about false teaching. Most of us would be glad to belong to it.
And yet Jesus had one thing against them. Read it and see what it was.
This is what Jesus wants from His people more than anything they can do for Him. He wants them to want Him. The New Testament calls the church His bride, and a bridegroom does not want a well-run household. He wants his bride’s heart. The ache you feel when you see a church going through the motions is a small echo of that longing.
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Last time you wrote that you would:
This is where you will look back at yesterday. For today, just notice how you are coming into this.
An honest prayer
Pray this as it is, or in your own words.
Lord Jesus, I have been busy for You and far from You at the same time. I want my first love back. Show me what that looks like today.
Read
Revelation 2:1-7 (OTB)
1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2I know your deeds, your labour, and your perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have endured and persevered for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember from where you have fallen! Repent and do the deeds you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favour: you reject the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also detest. 7Let those who have ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.