“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)
This letter was from Jesus to the church at Ephesus. But it is just as applicable for churches today. And the message also applies to individual believers. An important message that we often overlook. To our own hurt.
Jesus told the Ephesian church that He knew their work, their toil, and their patient endurance. They were working hard for the Lord. They were not becoming discouraged because of the opposition they faced. And they were doing well, and Jesus was commending them for their labor.
Jesus also commended them for testing false apostles and rejecting their corrupting influence. In Acts 20:29-30, Paul warned the Ephesian elders about these false apostles. And they had heeded Paul’s warning and were on their guard against false teachings. They were doing well to maintain their doctrinal integrity.
But they had a problem. They had left their first love. It left them in grave danger as a church. And Jesus called on them to return before it was too late.
What was this first love that they had left? Jesus taught that the greatest commandment was two-fold. To love God with all we are, and to love others, especially fellow believers, as ourselves (Matt. 22:34-40). Without this love, nothing we do has value (1 Cor 13:1-3). And this love is to be the distinguishing mark that demonstrates to the world that we belong to Jesus (John 13:34-35).
Working hard for Christ is a good thing that we should do. Holding tightly to the teachings of Scripture is important. But neither should come at the expense of love. Loving God and loving one another is the most important thing we can do as believers. This letter tells us that Jesus is more concerned with our love than He is with our works and our doctrine.
