Letter One

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.’” ~Revelation 2:1

It can be dangerous to let good things become best things; to allow important things to become ultimate things. The church in Ephesus experienced this. In Jesus’ first letter — the one to the Ephesian church — He commends them for so many good and important things. First, their patient endurance — that is, under hardship and suffering, they had endured. They had built solid Christian character and steadfast hope (Rom. 5:3-4).

The church was also known for being a hardworking church — one that was steadily laboring in the work of the Kingdom of God. This beloved congregation, which the apostle Paul planted, was earnest in their desire to do the good works that God had prepared beforehand for them to walk in (Eph. 2:10). They were Kingdom laborers.

Additionally, Jesus commended their doctrinal fidelity (Rev. 2:2). What a compliment to be known as a church that tests the spirits (1 John 4:1). They were a “Berean church” — one that examines the Scriptures to see if the teaching they were receiving was true. This is surely a high commendation. 

Hard work, patient endurance, faithful toiling, and doctrinal fidelity are all good and important traits. But ultimate? It seems not. Jesus says to the church in Ephesus, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev. 2:4). They had lost, minimized, neglected, abandoned their first love. Their chief love. Their greatest and ultimate love, which is surely love to Christ.

Does this ever happen to you — perhaps not persistently, but occasionally? Have you found yourself attending worship faithfully, enduring hardship joyfully, reading your Bible earnestly, studying theology deeply, and yet communing with Christ in intimate fellowship through prayer rarely? When was the last time you meditated on the blessing of His great love for you, and of your love for Him? Have you, perhaps even now, let love to Christ move to the back burner of your life?

There is hope, Christian! Jesus’ letter to the Ephesian church includes His instruction to those who have abandoned their first love, and it is a simple command: “remember” and ”repent” (Rev. 2:5-6). It’s remarkable that He actually says “repent” twice. It must be worth considering. 

Remember, Christian, just how much Jesus loves you, and what it cost Him to redeem you! Remember the joy of those first days of your relationship with Christ — what zeal you had to worship Him, to share His gospel, to follow Him in trust and obedience. And repent; grieve over your lost love — not over your patient endurance or Kingdom labor or doctrinal fidelity, but over your placement of those things above love to Christ. Surely it is only love to Christ that can undergird these other practices anyway. 

I’m thankful for the challenge of Jesus’ first letter. It reminds me to keep first things first. It helps me to prioritize my Christian walk. And it encourages me with the hope of warm restoration when my love to Christ grows cold.

Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Pastor