You have Left Your First Love Revelation 2:4

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus” as he wrote Jesus' words, “I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars, and have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted.” In chapter two and verse four of Revelation, John shared how Jesus had, “somewhat against” them, “because” they had “left” their“first love” where we read:

Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.

The verse begins, “ Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, ...” John began with the word, “nevertheless” which means “notwithstanding, as an exception, yes and moreover” “I have somewhat” or “Jesus holds, possesses and owns a particular thing” “against you” which refers to “toward the church in Ephesus”. Though Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for their good works, He held “a particular thing” against them.

The verse goes on to say, “... because you have left your first love.” John added the words, “because” or “since” “your have left” which means “the church in Ephesus had sent away, bid going, departed from, yield up, disregarded and let go of”, “your first love” which refers to “the church in Ephesus' chief in principle, honor and influence rank or position of affection, good will, love, benevolence and unconditional brotherly love”. Jesus indited the “church of Ephesus” for leaving their “primary and first” “unconditional love”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see how there was something that superseded all the previously recognized “works” in the “church in Ephesus”. The “church in Ephesus” was busy with the “business of the Lord Jesus”, however, they were not engaged in a relationship with Him. They “abandoned” their “first love”. God Almighty desires to have a “first” and primary relationship with everyone who will come to Him through His Son Jesus, and when they do, they should keep that “first love” as a priority before Him. Regardless of how many “labors” are done in the name of the Lord Jesus, none of them are more important that continuing in “love” with Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus told Ephesus to, “remember therefore from where you are fallen”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.