What is it about mothers? Their proverbial “eyes in the back of their heads” have been thwarting the creativity of their enterprising offspring for centuries. Somehow they just know everything. You can’t hide from Mom.
That’s the message John is about to share with seven churches that will receive the book of Revelation. Only it’s not Mom they need to be concerned about—it’s Jesus Himself. As Jesus begins His message to the church at Ephesus, He highlights the fact that He is walking among the churches, symbolized by the lampstands, observing everything they do. He sees it all, the good and the bad. And you thought your mother’s uncanny intelligence was intrusive.
Fortunately, there was some good in Ephesus for Jesus to view. They could not tolerate evil people and those masquerading as apostles. They were patient in the face of intense persecution by their pagan neighbors.
Jesus didn’t have to look far, though, before He uncovered a problem. In their commendable quest for purity of doctrine, they had lost something important—their first love.
What was this first love? Love for God maybe? Love for others? We are not told. What we do know is that while they persevered tirelessly in their ministry, they had lost their original passion.
This problem reaches far beyond Ephesus. I think we can even find it lurking within our congregations today. Our passion for God and others morphs into a passion for a cause. Our motives are right but our passion is misplaced.
The unintended consequence of standing firm on doctrine is that we can exchange love for Jesus with love for something else—for doctrine, for tradition, for preference, for the organization or programs of the church.
The remedy? Go back and do things like you used to do them. Hold tenaciously to doctrine and still have love. A precarious balance, but possible.
Our passion needs to be the glory of God. That, rather than hatred toward those who oppose our work, should be our focus.
Stay faithful, fight for the truth, and defend your doctrine. But don’t forget to love.
This post is part of Whatever Will Be, Will Be, And What You Can do About It, a series on Revelation.
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