3 Bible Tips: Lessons From Ephesus—Recapture Your First Love
The apostle John recorded Jesus Christ's messages to seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. After each message, everyone is told, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 2:7). What can we learn from the first message?
1. Like our spiritual brethren in Ephesus, God's people today must reject false teachers and their mistaken ideas masquerading as Christianity.
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars" (Revelation 2:2).
2. We should follow their example of endurance and hard work.
"And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary" (Revelation 2:3).
3. We must return to our initial zealous love of our brethren, of God and of doing His work.
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent" (Revelation 2:4-5).
For much more background information and biblical study of how recapturing our first love applies today, see "Message to Ephesus: Recapture Your First Love," a carefully researched article by David Treybig.