Saturday 28 June 2008

Background

These are the first two of seven letters sent to seven churchesthat make up the first three chapters of the book of Revelation.The letters are designed to give hope and courage to the earlychurches whose members were suffering and dying for their faith.The content of the letters gives an indication about the differentways that God's people will respond to the ongoingpersecutions.

The whole of Revelation is thick with visions and rich OldTestament imagery. It offers those in the early Church, and ustoday, heart-stirring glimpses of the kingdom and of the power ofthe Lamb of God.

The leader of the church at Ephesus is warned that, although thechurch's many good qualities are recognised, there is a loss of"the love you had at first" (verse 4). This notion of havingwandered so far from the initial response to the grace of God isone that is a hallmark of discipleship throughout the Bible. Manyhave wandered from the path to which they first felt called, and inthis case, there is a warning that if there is no return to theright path, the congregation shall be removed from the Lord'scare.

All those early members of the Church knew they were to suffer -this was the cost of discipleship. Those first followers could losetheir lives in their decision to respond to Christ. Their actionswere significant and their lives bore strong witness to theirfaith.

To Ponder

"Let anyone who has an ear listen to what theSpirit is saying to the churches" (verses 7, 11). How do you ensurethat you have an ear to listen as you continue on your path ofdiscipleship?

What do you need to conquer to experience theparadise of God?