Christian,... lost your first love?
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
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.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelations 2:1-7
The Church at Ephesus. Here Jesus gives them both encouragement and a warning. He points out that they “cannot tolerate wicked men”. That they have tested people claiming to be apostles and found them to be false. That they have endured hardship and not grown weary. All good and positive things.
He even points out that they hate the practices of the Nicolations a heretical group of the day.
Jesus however points out that “You have forsaken your first love”
The first love of the church should always be God. Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38.
As Christians we should always be aware of this. It is very easy in this world with everything that is contrary to Christian moral teaching and beliefs to wander away from God.
We may think we are doing God’s will but the reality of the situation we are not. Remember Jesus gave the church a job. He said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Thus the job of the church is to make disciples of all nations, and teach all that Jesus taught to them.
Sadly many in the Church especially here in North America are becoming religious versions of the world.
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham
We here in North America have incredible freedoms. However many claiming to be Christians use those freedoms to demonstrate and protest against anything they disagree with. This should not be so.
If we are true to our first love, God. We should be making disciples. We should be teaching them how to live Godly lives. Not protesting.
Unfortunately here in North America Christians, especially evangelical Christians, are known for what they are against. Not for what they are for.
With all the demonstrations “against things” those calling themselves Christians do, the message of Salvation is lost.
Modern day Christians here in North America I’m sure dislike many things God dislikes and that is a good thing. Unfortunately they show this dislike by judging those they disagree with. Something only God can do.
If we claim to be Christian we need to be looking at our actions and our lifestyle and asking ourselves are we still true to our first love? Are we conducting our lives in a manner that God would approve of?
Please think about it.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
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.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelations 2:1-7
The Church at Ephesus. Here Jesus gives them both encouragement and a warning. He points out that they “cannot tolerate wicked men”. That they have tested people claiming to be apostles and found them to be false. That they have endured hardship and not grown weary. All good and positive things.
He even points out that they hate the practices of the Nicolations a heretical group of the day.
Jesus however points out that “You have forsaken your first love”
The first love of the church should always be God. Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38.
As Christians we should always be aware of this. It is very easy in this world with everything that is contrary to Christian moral teaching and beliefs to wander away from God.
We may think we are doing God’s will but the reality of the situation we are not. Remember Jesus gave the church a job. He said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
Thus the job of the church is to make disciples of all nations, and teach all that Jesus taught to them.
Sadly many in the Church especially here in North America are becoming religious versions of the world.
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham
We here in North America have incredible freedoms. However many claiming to be Christians use those freedoms to demonstrate and protest against anything they disagree with. This should not be so.
If we are true to our first love, God. We should be making disciples. We should be teaching them how to live Godly lives. Not protesting.
Unfortunately here in North America Christians, especially evangelical Christians, are known for what they are against. Not for what they are for.
With all the demonstrations “against things” those calling themselves Christians do, the message of Salvation is lost.
Modern day Christians here in North America I’m sure dislike many things God dislikes and that is a good thing. Unfortunately they show this dislike by judging those they disagree with. Something only God can do.
If we claim to be Christian we need to be looking at our actions and our lifestyle and asking ourselves are we still true to our first love? Are we conducting our lives in a manner that God would approve of?
Please think about it.
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