The Love You Had at First
For Meditation
Last week, we encountered John’s first vision, which was a vision of the cosmic Christ. We saw Jesus in glorious splendor, reigning over heaven and earth. Interestingly, in this vision Jesus then begins to address each of the seven churches. Thus we move into chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, probably the portion of the book that people are most familiar with, likely because it’s the easiest to understand.
Each of the seven letters has a common pattern. They begin with a reminder of the vision of Christ, each one naming a different characteristic of the cosmic Christ. Then they move to a commendation of the church to recognize what is going well. Then Jesus offers a corrective criticism about what is going badly. Finally, each letter ends with a solemn warning and a promise. Although each of these letters was directed to a specific church in a particular time and place, we can also read these letters as letters to us, since we are a part of the complete church.
This Sunday we’ll focus on the first letter, the letter to the church of Ephesus. This church was very commendable, busy with activity, orthodox in their beliefs, and patient in their suffering. And yet, they lacked the one thing most needed: love. This letter is a sober reminder that we can look like a wonderful church and all the while lose the one quality without which all others are worthless.
In preparation for worship, read through the first letter and consider the place of love in your life with God.
Revelation 1:20–2:7
20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
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.
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far 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. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Note: We will not be going through the Revelation series at our outdoor services. Instead, we’ll be looking at short stories about Jesus from the Gospel accounts. Keep up with this Revelation sermon series by listening here.