1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

 

Yesterday, we discussed the Words of Praise Jesus said about the Church in Ephesus in the 2nd Chapter of Revelation. They were hard-working and had perseverance. In addition, Jesus commended them for their great Discernment of Spirits and the fact that they recognized the false apostles in their midst and turned from them.

 

However, Jesus noted that they had turned from their first love, which was Him. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4) Jesus must always come first in our personal lives and in the Church. Without Him, we are nothing. Without Him, there would be no Church.

 

Apparently, the Ephesians were doing great work but they had put Jesus on the back burner. This will never be acceptable to God. Everything about who we are, what we have, and what we are able to do stems from our faith in Jesus and His Finished Work on the Cross of Calvary. Never forget that!

 

Jesus gave them a strict warning. 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)

 

We must never lose sight of the fact that Jesus is the Head of our Church. He must come first. We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) The Apostle Paul tells us that it is only reasonable, given what Christ did for us, that we give up everything and die to self. This means totally surrendering all that we are to Him. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

 

If Jesus Christ and His Finished Work on the Cross of Calvary is not first and foremost in your life and in the Church you pastor or attend, there is a big problem. All the work and endurance mean nothing if Jesus is not our first love.

 

When Jesus said He would remove their lampstand from its place unless they repented, He meant it. He still means it and He can do it. We like to say that we stand on the Promises of God. All God’s Promises are not about doing good things for us. Some of God’s Promises are warnings and we can stand on them as well.

 

Repent. Return to your first love. Make Jesus Christ your all in all. He gave His all for you. Heed this warning. It is a Promise of God that He will keep.

 

 

God will soon……….turn the tide

 

Jesus is first in my life,         Doreen

 

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