Joel M Bradshaw

4Yet I [Jesus] hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.–Revelation 2

1. These verses come from Jesus’ message for the church in Ephesus.
2. I do marriage counseling, and I usually ask the couple how they met, and how they felt about each other in the early days of their relationship.
3. Even the most bitter couples remember how they used to treat each other, and how they both tried so hard to please the other person.
4. Jesus is making a similar point here. At one point, the Ephesian church had put Jesus first in their list of priorities. This meant that they therefore lived a certain way.
5. Yet, Jesus commanded them to repent, to change their mind, and to live differently.
6. Look at your life. How is your relationship with Jesus? How would you describe your priorities and the manner in which you live your faith?
7. My goodness, imagine your church receiving a letter from Jesus! What would Jesus commend about you? What would he chastise?–JMB