Title

The Church at Ephesus

Scripture
"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."
(Revelation 2:2)
Devotional
This the first of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation like many churches today patiently did a lot of good works, hated evil and discerned true leadership. Nevertheless we are told that, again like many churches today, "I have this against you, that you have left your first love."[9] What was that first love? To answer this question we have to go back 35 years to the letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you."[10] These second generation believers kept doing the work of ministry, but neglected the love of the ministers. Anytime love is removed from the equation, the results no matter how good will always miss the mark to which Christ has called us. We are first and foremost called to love the Lord our God and to love one another. This is to be our frit love. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."[11]