Fellowship

Revelation 2:1-6
Acts 19:1-10
Ephesians 3:14-19, 5:1-2
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Matthew 22:37-40

Today, we’re going to dig into the letter to the church in Ephesus found in Revelation 2:1-6. History informs us Ephesus was a city ruled by the Roman empire, famous because of its commercial, social, and religious activities. It was the capital of its province and various cultic religious and emperor worship were practiced there. 

Early Church leader and apostle Paul planted a church in Ephesus during his missionary journeys (Acts 19:1-10); the letter in today’s Scripture passage is addressed to this church. 

Self-Revelation: Jesus as Author
John, another apostle of Jesus who wrote down the book of Revelation, begins the letter by introducing the true author of the message as Jesus, “the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands[.]” (Revelation 2:1) Revelation 1:20 explains, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” 

The angels described here are thought to be pastors who are strengthened by Jesus to care for His churches. As He walks among the churches, Jesus observes the good deeds of the church in Ephesus and praises her for them, but also charges the Ephesian church with a significant failing. (Revelation 2:2-3)

The Shofar’s Call
Jesus says, “But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first”; He calls on the church to repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)

After planting this church, Apostle Paul urged them to stand strong in their faith in Christ. In addition to visiting them personally, he also wrote them letters of exhortation and encouragement. Significantly, Apostle Paul shared his prayer for them to be established in love and be empowered to understand the measureless love of God, which should serve as an example for them to walk in love. (Ephesians 3:14-19, Ephesians 5:1-2)

But more than 32 years later, the believers in this church had forgotten Apostle Paul’s teachings about the love of God. Maybe their focus on testing false teachers and persevering through persecution left their hearts rigid and suspicious of those around them. As a result, their love for God and for one another grew cold.  

Jesus, the One who walks among the churches, notices this departure and calls them to consider how far they’ve walked away from their first love. “Return”, Jesus instructs, and avoid losing their place as a lampstand. With this warning, Bible scholars believe Jesus is saying He would remove the light of His presence from them. 

John 15:1-2 lends weight to this interpretation as Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes[.]”

Stirring Us Up
Now, this call is no longer directed to the church in Ephesus, since it is no more, but to us. We are called to consider how far we have forsaken our first love and repent. 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40) 

In His final days with His disciples, Jesus continued to emphasize love: 
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” (John 13:34) 
“Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love[.]” (John 15:9-10)

Love occupies the heart of God and led Him to sacrifice Himself so we may be saved through Him. (John 3:16)

Apostle Paul clarifies to us the kind of love with which we honor Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, he explains outward signs of faith are meaningless if our hearts aren’t first rooted in love. It is possible, then, for us to do wonderful things for the sake of Jesus with a different motive- possibly so we may boast about them. 

But God’s kind of love is patient and kind; it does not envy nor boast and it is not proud. 
It does not dishonor others. 
It is not self-seeking nor easily angered. 
It does not keep records of wrongs. 
This love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 
It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. 
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Sisters in Christ, how much of our hearts are occupied with this kind of Godly love?

Perhaps like the Church in Ephesus, we are full of zeal for Jesus, but far away from our first love: God’s love, poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit when we began to follow Jesus. Just as He did to the Ephesian church, Jesus is calling us, “Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works [of love] you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5)

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”
(Revelation 2:7)