Ephesus: Lost their First Love

Revelation 2:1-7 

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Lord over the seven churches with authority and power dictated this letter through John to them and to all future churches like them.  He begins by reminding them who He is and of His right to console as well as charge with error.  The good things they do are brought out first so as not to make their situation seem hopeless; remember that He began with grace and peace to all seven of these churches, and is still speaking that to the Ephesian church.  They are commended for doing what is right, laboring in Christ for the gospel and not tolerating evil nor growing weary in all they endured.  They are patient for God’s work as they labor and toil with all they have and are driven with by His enabling and wisdom.  Here they did not tolerate false teachers impersonating true church leaders, but sought out their lies to expose them (Ephesians 5:11).  But their problem was that they left their first love, Jesus Christ Himself.  It is one thing to do right out of obedience, but quite another to obey with heartfelt love in the doing of what is right.  They were called to repent, to change their thinking to drive their actions; they needed to turn from the sinful lack of love in worship to the One they worshipped and served.  We must never lose sight of the love we first felt which drove us to follow Christ when we first believed!  A church may be uprooted if the members lose this love, no matter what other good things we do as, the Ephesians did such as with the false Nicolaitan teachers.  We not only love and hate what God does, but must love Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24) through it all.  The prize we run towards (Philippians 3:14) of our calling ends at the tree of life, eternally in God’s presence.  Love of and for God in our reasonable service and worship is tantamount (Romans 12:1-2).