Revelation 2:3-4 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
How well we are doing is not a direct reflection of our love.
These are the last words from yesterday and they deserve some follow up. Jesus’ message to the church at Ephesus begins with praise about how well they are doing in patience, forbearance and faithfulness. Then the other shoe drops, “I have this against you.”
What was this first love that they began with and abandoned on the way? Can we look into our own lives and see perhaps a glimpse of the same thing? Have we gotten so duty minded we have neglected our relation with our Lord? Have been so satisfied with the results of our work that we failed to seek satisfaction with being in His presence? Have we allowed the joy of fellowship to drown out His loving words to us in our personal relationship?
Do we study His word to teach others and neglect our own personal growth? Do we seek answers rather than Him who is the answer? Do we seek to discover who we are without discovering who He is in us?
Everything we have is a gift from God. Are we children that give a hug and a thank you and then run off to play with our gift without including Him in those moments? We would not have those gifts without Him and they will be most effective if we use them with Him.
It is easy to get busy. It is even easier to get concerned. He made us what we are to share in our lives, not to be ignored while we live life.