The church in Ephesus had gotten into the “same old same old” routine. Jesus commends them for:
- Their works
- Their labor
- Their enduring patience
- Their resistance to evil
- Their firm commitment to His Name
But He also brought to their attention Their flaws. Their shortcomings. The church in Ephesus had settled into the “same old grind.”
- They were busy
- They were doctrinally sound
- They were active
- They were enduring
But they had fallen from the heights they once soared at. In Jesus’ own words, they had abandoned their first love—the love they first had for Him.
They had abandoned:
- The passion
- The drive
- The desire
- And the devotion they had at the beginning
- They were going through the motions
- They were having church as usual
The danger with that is that your worship becomes stale, and outward—a thing to be seen and not experienced. Your song stirs the senses but never waters the thirsty soul. Your works are deeds that ease the conscience, but don’t fulfill the spirit.
In time, your heart drifts. So, Jesus gives them the remedy: repent, and do the works you did at first. In other words, return to Me, and I will return to you. Remember what you used to do, not just what used to happen.
Dear LORD, thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for being a forgiving God. Please forgive me for letting my love grow cold. Please forgive me for letting the fire die out and the flame quench. Please light the fire again. Please give me another chance to serve You with all that is within me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.