Somehow even as we exercise discipline and study and stewardship, there is place for warmth toward the Holy Spirit which we must cultivate!
“These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven lamps of gold…I have this against you: you have lost your early love. Think from what a height you have fallen; repent…” Revelation 2:1,5.
Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the bible. Chapter three contains my favorite verses in the bible. What a great church in a completely pagan and adversarial environment! And now the Lord Jesus speaks to this church 40 years later through his servant John (who knew and attended this church).
This church is commended for their hard work and their steadfastness in a pagan environment. They have done the difficult work of rooting out the wolves who infiltrated the church with false gospels – that is hand to hand combat and for any of you who have had to do this, you know that it’s exhausting. They never flagged – they stood by the stuff. Great people. But somehow over this time they had grown stern and stiff. There were no tears anymore. No hands ever raised in worship. No tenderness toward one another. It had become more like a military post than a community of saints.
Interestingly, Ephesians chapter five talks about marriage as a picture of Christ and his bride the Church. It’s a love picture. Have you been married for a long time? It’s easy as you raise the kids and pay the mortgage and go to work each day and suffer under rising prices but stagnant wages to let marriage slide into a respectful partnership rather than a loving relationship. Us married people need to inject the fresh spring of loving feelings to wash over us even during these other times of high demand. This is true spiritually as well. Somehow even as we exercise discipline and study and stewardship, there is place for warmth toward the Holy Spirit which we must cultivate!
In Revelation, Jesus walks among the churches. He does that today as well. What would his report card be for our church? What, after all is our church but you and me who make up our church? How we need regular and fresh filling from and for the Great Bridegroom who gave Himself for us!
Have a listen to this great song:
https://youtu.be/_e8Zouef-ZI?si=-G3cSlJItNqn6PYf
Pastor Leon Throness
