In Revelation 2:2-3, Christ commended the church in Ephesus for their hard work, perseverance in enduring hardships, and testing false prophets. Sounds great, right? However, after complimenting the church in Ephesus in the ways they were excelling, Christ spoke again: “Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first,” (Rev. 2:4). The greek translation of “you have forsaken”, (ἀφῆκες), can also mean “you have abandoned” or “you left.” Christ goes on to say, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first...” (Rev. 2:5).
As our bible class studies the book of Revelation, I have imagined being the recipient of this particular letter, and the thought brought me to tears. Not only would I weep if Christ found me guilty of abandoning my first “agape” love for Him, but my heart also breaks for Christ, the One forsaken.
How then do we love our Lord as we did at first? The Ephesians were commended for many good works, yet they were still found lacking (Revelation 2:2-3). Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” in Matthew 22:37. A friend and fellow sister in Christ suggested that we must have a “dependent, fully submissive love.” We would then recognize that without Christ, we are lost; and with Him we are free. Our focus would be on the cross, so we “never lose sight of what we owe.”
I appreciated a comment in class about the zeal we experience as new christians and our desire to share the gospel with the world. Any of us can become apathetic without intentional growth in the Lord. In Romans 12:1-2 we read, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
As another friend brought up in our study, Christ the King, as described in Revelation 1:12-16, is majestic, powerful, and glorious. Considering how Christ humbled Himself to live here among us, to be ridiculed, rejected, and even crucified, how can we dishonor Him with anything less than this fervent, active love?
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them,”’ (John 14:23).
My daughters and I have been singing “I love you Lord” this week, and we hope you will join us and sing along: