Hi Beloved!

Over the past few years, I have felt a strong urging from the Holy Spirit to study and reflect on the Book of Revelation. The messages to the seven churches hold valuable lessons for the church today.

What can we learn from our Lord’s message to the church in Ephesus?

“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 lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, 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 the love you had at first. Consider how far 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.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Jesus is pleased with their hard work and perseverance. They have endured hardships for His name and have not grown weary. They exercise discernment and have no tolerance for wicked, pretenders in the church, who are seeking to deceive. They also stand against the practices of the Nicolaitans and have not conformed to the idol worship of the day.

However, the Lord has this against them: they lost the love they had at first! They loved Jesus and each other, and that was the center of their ministry. In churches today, is the love of Jesus the center and focus? Are we living out the greatest commandment?

“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)

The second commandment is just as important. We must love and care for our brothers and sisters.

“And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:38-40)

I’m so grateful for the Lord’s direction and guidance in these letters. Church – may we work hard and persevere, not grow weary, use discernment, never compromise, and let us never lose our first love. May we rise up and be the light and the salt of the Earth, live out the two greatest commandments, and be an example of Christ’s love to the world.

Jesus Loves you!

Lexi ❤️