Wednesday 18 July 2012
- Bible Book:
- Revelation
"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first." (vv. 2-4)
Background
Through John's Revelation, Jesus now speaksprophetically to the seven separate churches ("lampstands" (v. 1))and the first of these is in Ephesus. As with all the messages tothese churches, there is knowledge and intimacy; John knew thesepeople well, their strengths and their weaknesses. One can onlypresume that, whilst exiled on Patmos, John received up to dateinformation about these Christian brothers and sisters on themainland.
The message to the Ephesian church begins in acomplimentary way. They are affirmed as being hardworking, patient,and not tolerating false teachers - notably the sect calledNicolaitans who advocated various pagan practices and immorality inthe name of spiritual freedom. It is clear in these verses that thechurch members are following the rules (verses 2-3).
However, this short message also suggests that thatthey have lost their love of God. When reading these words to thechurch in Ephesus, I am reminded again of John Wesley's three daily'general rules':
- Do no harm
- Do good
- Stay in love with God
The Christians in Ephesus appear to be conductingthemselves well, but seem to have lost the fervour and excitementof being in love. The prophetic words in this passage are a call toremember that the God of love requires repentance; a change inthought and attitude that starts with knowing just how much Godloves each one of us first. Followers of Jesus, then as now, needto understand just how much love was demonstrated on the Cross andthat at the heart of our faith it is all about having a deeprelationship with God. It is this that the Ephesians seem to haveabandoned (verse 4).
There are references to Old Testament teachingthroughout Revelation, and this short instruction to the Ephesiansends in verse 7 with a reference to the tree of life in Genesis 2and 3. Eternal life is made possible again for all those who arefaithful to Jesus.
To Ponder
- What do you think about John Wesley's three general rules (Dono harm, do good, stay in love with God) as a recipe for dailyliving as a Christian?
- Two emphases in this short message are the importance oforderly living, and then the need to be in love with God. How doyou express both at the same time?