Forgotten Fondness

Ephesians were known and celebrated for doctrinal purity, social justice and perseverance. They did good things. They thought in good ways, BUT...:

"Yet I hold this against you: you've lost your first love"

They lost the why.

Why do we do all that we are called to do? Religion? Habit? Fear? Apathy? Love? Honour? Devotion?

Jesus provides this teaching again and again while he was on earth. It is not the gift, but how you give it. It is not the prayer, but how you offer it. And here again, it is not your right theology, but why right theology is important. It is not theology in concept but in lifestyle that pleases God.

All these good things we do and think because they help us to display the heart of God in us, the heart of God for us and our heart stretching towards God.

Revelation 2:1-7

¹"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things 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 favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

So let us then live these things together that we might remind each other to not forget our first love.

Don't Give Up.

g-ram