Revelation 2:4, 5 - The Priority of Relationship.
Revelation 2:4, 5 (NIV) Yet I hold this
against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5
Remember the height from which 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.
Revelation 2:4, 5 (NLT) But I have this
complaint against you. You dont love me or each
other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have
fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at
first. If you dont repent, I will come and
remove your lampstand from its place among the
churches.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Ephesus was the home of a tremendous
ministry. Despite harsh persecution, the church
planted by Paul endured opposition, spread the
gospel, and was quick to challenge false prophets.
But 30 years after the apostle left, Johns
revelation included a stern warning for those
believers.
Imagine how the words of Revelation 2
must have struck the Ephesians when they read
them. After complimenting their service to the
gospel, Christ said, But I have this against
you... That phrase was no doubt extremely
disconcerting. The Lord warned them that they had left
their first love. In other words, all of Their
Work Was Being Done With Wrong Motives.
Christ called the Ephesians to remember
their love for Him and their delight in His
salvation. Service Is No Substitute For An Intimate
Relationship, but modern believers continue to fall into
this subtle trap. The commendable things that we
do count for nothing unless they stem from a
vibrant personal connection with God. Our Work
Cant Be Effective Or Fruitful Unless He Is In
It.
In fact, God is more interested in you
and your personal relationship with Him than in
a thousand lifetimes of good works. He desires
to be the satisfaction and delight of His
children so that their service is a result of loving
devotion.
There are plenty of wrong reasons to
labor for the kingdom. However, God is satisfied
only with service motivated by love for Him. He
wants those with selfish intentions to return to
their first love. In that way, hearts and minds
can be renewed, and service to the Lord will be
more fruitful. [In Touch Daily Devotional by
Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
COMMENTARY
They had lost their zeal for God. They were
a busy church - the members did much to
benefit themselves and the community - but they were
acting out of the wrong motives. Work for God must
be motivated by love for God or it will not
last. [Life Application SB]
Just as when a man and woman fall in love,
so also new believers rejoice at their newfound
forgiveness. But when we lose sight of the seriousness of
sin, we begin to lose the thrill of our
forgiveness. In the first steps of your Christian life,
you may have had enthusiasm without knowledge.
Do you now have knowledge without enthusiasm?
Both are necessary if we are to keep love for God
intense and untarnished. Do you love God with the
same fervor as when you were a new Christian?
[Life Application SB]
The warmth of their first love is frozen
up, and unless they are watered over by the
baptism of the Holy Spirit, their candlestick will
be removed out of its place, except they repent
and do their first works. The first works of the
church were seen when the believers sought out
friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and with
hearts overflowing with love told the story of what
Jesus was to them and what they were to
Jesus.....
Selfishness mars all that unconsecrated
workers do. They have need to pray always, but they
do not. They need to watch unto prayer. They
have need to feel the sacredness of the work, but
they do not feel this. They handle sacred things
as they do common things. Spiritual things are
spiritually discerned, and until they can drink of the
water of life, and Christ be in them as a well of
water springing up unto everlasting life, they
will refresh no one, bless no one; and except
they repent, their candlestick will be removed
out of its place. There is need of enduring
patience, of invincible charity, of omnipotent faith
in the work of saving souls. Self must not be
prominent. Wisdom from Christ must be exercised in
dealing with human minds. Every worker who deals
with souls successfully must come to the work
divested of self.....
Those who do not learn every day in the
school of Christ, who do not spend much time in
earnest prayer, are not fit to handle the work of
God in any of its branches; for if they do,
human depravity will surely overcome them and they
will lift up their souls unto vanity. TM167-73
ILLUSTRATIONS
Do you remember the first time you fell
in love? How you couldn't spend enough time
with him? How the hours you were with her seemed
like minutes? Perhaps you had a similar
experience when you first recognized Christ's amazing
love for you and your heart was filled with love
for Him. As we busily serve the Lord, though, we
can too easily lose the joy we knew when we
first loved Him. The service that began as a
response of deep affection for the Lord can
deteriorate into acting merely out of a sense of duty;
our Christian life can become routine, even
drudgery. We must never allow religion to overtake our
love relationship with God.
In the second century, Polycarp - who
trained for ministry under the apostle John - served
as a pastor. When a great persecution of
Christians under Roman emperor Antonius Pius began,
Polycarp was arrested. Ordered to renounce Christ,
Polycarp boldly proclaimed: "I have served Him for
eighty-six years, and He has done me no wrong. Can I
revile my King who saved me?"
Polycarp was burned alive at the stake
for a love that lasted almost nine decades. How
has your love for Christ grown over the years?
[Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby]
When I was little we used to play church.
We would get chairs into rows, fight over who
would be preacher, vigorously lead the hymn
singing, and generally have a great time.
The aggressive kids naturally wanted to
be up front, directing or preaching. The
quieter ones were content to sit and be entertained
by the upfronters.
Occasionally we would become mesmerized
by a true sensationalistic crowd swayer, such
as the girl who said, "Boo! I'm the Holy
Ghost!" But in general, if the upfronters were
pretty good, they could hold their audience quite a
while. If they weren't so good, eventually the kids
would drift off to play something else, such as
jump rope or jacks.
Now that generation has grown up, but
most of them have not changed too much. Every
Sunday they still play church. They line up in rows
for the entertainment. If it's pretty good,
their church may grow. If it's not too hot,
eventually they will drift off to play something else,
such as yachting or wife swapping. Anne Ortlund
Anne is right. Many people today just
play church, and it's truly sad because they
really don't know what they are missing.
A minister I know used to say, "Wherever
you are when it's time for church, you will be
worshiping your god." If you are at home asleep, then
sleep is your god. If you are on the golf course,
then golf is your god. If you are working, then
work is your god. Or if you are in the assembly
of the saints and your heart is truly engaged
in worship, then God really is your God.
Aren't you happy that God was not playing
when he offered us his grace?
Forgive me Lord, for the times I fail to
put you first in my life. I repent of my neglect
and pray that you will draw me ever closer to
you. Amen. [The One Year Devotional of Joy and
Laughter by Mary Hollingsworth]
Familiarity
When Tim, an elder at our church, moved
into his home in the Santa Monica Mountains five
years ago, he was awestruck by an enormous rock
formation that was set back from the main highway. The
rock citadel towered majestically over the waters
of a sparkling lake. "That first year I nearly
ran myself off the road and into that lake half
a dozen times, rubbernecking to get every view
possible of its grandeur, at every time of day, in
every different kind of light," Tim said, "the sun
illuminated its dramatic cracks and crevices in so many
diverse and magnificent ways. If that rock were in
the middle of Kansas, it would draw a million
visitors every year!" A few months ago he was driving
a visitor from the airport to his home. They
came around a corner and his guest exclaimed,
"Look at that Rock!" to which Tim replied "What
rock? Oh, that rock!"
The next week in church, Tim blushed as
he told us about the incident. "It reminded me
of the 'sin of familiarity' - a sin which only
those who have seen and loved the grandeur of our
Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, can
commit."
My elder-friend went on to say that
familiarity with Christ keeps us from enjoying true
intimacy with the Lord. We listen to Christian talk
radio, thinking it suffices for our daily
devotions. Or we reach for an article on the latest
theological controversy, and fail to reach for the Word
of God itself. Ask the Lord to give you a new
sense of his presence and a fresh touch of his
Spirit. Renew your commitment to love him with your
whole heart, soul and strength.
Lord Jesus, you are my Rock and Fortress.
You tower over every thing in my life. Forgive
me when I take for granted your grace and
strength in my life, and may I never, ever allow your
death and resurrection to become 'familiar.'[Joni
Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional re Deuteronomy 6:5-6]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Returning to Our First Love
When Jesus found a fatal flaw in the
church at Ephesus - that they were leaving their
first love - He also gave His prescription for
renewal and revival. They are the three Rs of
returning to our first love: remember, repent, and
repeat.
First, you need to remember. This word
could be translated, "Keep on remembering." What
should you remember? You should remember where you
were when Jesus Christ first found you. You were
separated from Him by sin and on your way to a certain
judgment. But He graciously and lovingly reached out
to you and forgave you. All of us were
separated from God and facing judgment. The essential
thing Christ did for you is the same that He did
for every person.
The psalmist described it this way: "He
also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of
the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and
established my steps. He has put a new song in my
mouth-praise to our God" (Psalm 40:2-3). Every Christian
can say this. That is what Christ did for us.
Second, you need to remember where you
were at the highest point of your love for Jesus.
When was that high point in your spiritual life?
Was it a month ago? A year? Ten years? Or was it
today? Could you say, "At this moment in my life, I
believe I am as close to the Lord as I have ever
been"? If you can say that, praise God. If not,
remember when you were closest to the Lord, mark it
in your mind, and make it your aim to return
there once again. [Every Day with Jesus by Greg
Laurie]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Be still in My presence, even though
countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is
as important as spending time with Me. While
you wait in My Presence, I do My best work
within you: transforming you by the renewing of
your mind. If you skimp on this time with Me, you
may plunge headlong into the wrong activities,
missing the richness of what I have planned for you.
Do not seek Me primarily for what I can
give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am
infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you.
Though I delight in blessing My children, I am
deeply grieved when My blessings become idols in
their hearts. Anything can be an idol if it
distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am
the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe
from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My
Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in
you, the hope of Glory! (Rom. 12:2; Rev. 2:4;
Col. 1:27) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am speaking in the depths of your
being. Be still, so that you can hear My voice. I
speak in the language of Love; My words fill you
with Life and Peace, Joy and hope. I desire to
talk with all of My children, but many are too
busy to listen. The "work ethic" has them tied up
in knots. They submit wholeheartedly to this
taskmaster, wondering why they feel so distant from Me.
Living close to Me requires making Me
your First Love--your highest priority. As you
seek My Presence above all else, you experience
Peace and Joy in full measure. I also am blessed
when you make Me first in your life. While you
journey through life in My Presence, My Glory
brightens the world around you. (Isa. 50:4; Rev. 2:4;
Isa. 60:2) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
In everything you do, put Me first, and I
will direct you and crown your efforts with
success. Putting Me first sounds so simple and
straightforward. But the world, the flesh, and the devil war
against your efforts to do this. You can easily
justify letting other things creep into the space
and time you had set aside for Me. If this
happens only occasionally, it is just part of being
human. However, if you see it becoming a pattern in
your life, watch out! Your priorities may have
been gradually shifting - until I am no longer
your First Love.
Putting Me first is not an arbitrary
rule; it is the way to live vibrantly, joyfully -
close to Me. It is also the way to live
purposefully, letting Me direct your steps. When I am your
top priority, other things fall into their
proper place. So delight yourself in Me first and
foremost. As you walk in the Light of My Presence, I
open up the path before you - and give you the
desires of your heart. (Rev. 2:4; Psa. 37:4; 1Jo.
1:7) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Seek to live in My love, which covers a
multitude of sins: both yours and others. Wear My
Love like a cloak of Light, covering you from
head to toe. Have no fear, for perfect Love
decimates fear. Look at other people through lenses of
Love; see them from My perspective. This is how
you walk in the Light, and it pleases Me.
I want My Body of believers to be radiant
with the Light of My Presence. How I grieve when
pockets of darkness increasingly dim the Love -
Light. Return to Me, your First Love! Gaze at Me in
the splendor of holiness, and My Love will once
again envelop you in Light. (1 Pet. 4:8; 1 John
4:18; Rev. 2:4) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am your treasure! Sometimes you feel
frazzled - pulled this way and that by people and
circumstances around you. Your yearning for meaning and
deep connection drives you into more and more
activity. Even when your body is still, your mind
tends to race - anticipating future problems and
searching for solutions. You need to remember that all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden
in Me. Remind yourself of this glorious truth
frequently, whispering: "Jesus, You are my Treasure. In
You I am complete."
When you prize Me above all else, making
Me your First Love, you are protected from
feeling fragmented. Whenever you find your thoughts
straying, you can train your mind to return to the One
who completes you. This gives focus to your life
and helps you stay close to Me. Living near Me,
enjoying My Presence, involves seeking to obey My
commands. I am telling you this so that My Joy may be
in you and that your Joy may be complete.
(Col. 2:2, 3; Rev. 2:4; John 15:10, 11) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
You cannot serve two masters. If I am
truly your Master, you will desire to please Me
above all others. If pleasing people is your goal,
you will be enslaved to them. People can be
harsh taskmasters when you give them this power
over you.
If I am the Master of your life, I will
also be your First Love. Your serving Me is
rooted and grounded in My vast, unconditional Love
for you. The lower you bow down before Me, the
higher I lift you up into intimate relationship
with Me. The Joy of living in My Presence
outshines all other pleasures. I want you to reflect
My joyous Light by living in increasing
intimacy with Me. (Mat. 6:24; Rev. 2:4; Eph. 3:16,
17; Psa. 16:11) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
PERTINENT CROSS REFERENCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
Revelation 3:2-3 (NLT) Wake up! Strengthen
what little remains, for even what is left is
almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet
the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what
you heard and believed at first; hold to it
firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you dont
wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as
unexpected as a thief.
1 John 2:24 (NLT) So you must remain
faithful to what you have been taught from the
beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship
with the Son and with the Father.
Colossians 2:6 (KJV) As ye have therefore
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220226-1002.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
