We can love church, doing good works and turn our nose up at immorality, but if it is all done without love, it is done in vain.
My pastor posed the question yesterday, “How much do you love the Lord?” It seems like a pretty simple question, but as I thought about it last night and today and then went back and read Revelation 2:1-7, I am reminded that my actions don’t always line up with what I feel in my heart. You hear it all the time, “Actions speak louder than words” and it is so true…especially when thinking about the church at Ephesus. In studying about Ephesus, it was surrounded by evil and it was said to be a stronghold of Satan. There was sorcery and lots of ungodly practices that took place within the city. It was a cultural and economic center of the region and housed the temple of Diana…a fertility goddess worshipped by immoral sex. This church was in the middle of quite the mess, if I do say so myself.
Even in the middle of all that mess, the church at Ephesus managed to do so many things right. They worked hard for the Lord and demonstrated patience. They were rock-solid and pursued doctrinal purity. If we were to look at this church, we would say they were doing everything right. Their actions were speaking loud. But in verse 4, Jesus says, “nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Nevertheless means in spite of everything good they had done, there was still something Jesus had against them and it was pretty serious. They had left their first love.
It didn’t fall by the wayside or get lost along the way…they left it. It’s like leaving your keys inside the house and going to get in your car. You aren’t going anywhere. In regards to the church, it was like they left their love for God and their love for other’s far from their hearts. Without that, all the other stuff doesn’t matter.
In 1 Corinthians 16:14, Paul writes to let all that you do be done in love. 1 John 4:8 says that whoever does not love does not know a God, because God is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says that if we speak in the tongues of men or angels but do not have love we are like a clanging cymbal.
Love is important.
Love God first.
Love your neighbor.
As a nation, we have left God.
As a people, we have turned our back on our neighbors. We can’t seem to figure out why (as a majority) the Christian church is no longer effective. Maybe it’s because we “look good” on the outside and we can do everything to portray the “goodness” we proclaim, yet we have absolutely zero love. Our love for Christ and the love of Christ will radiate from us, when it resides within. We will look different to this evil world. We will stand out to the people around us, as did the church in Ephesus.
So, I pose the question to myself again. “How much do I love the Lord? Do I love Him more than I did yesterday or the day I was saved? Do I work at my relationship with my Savior as much as I do with my spouse, family and friends?
The excitement of being a “new Christian” will wear off, but the love for Christ as our Savior, Redeemer and friend should grow stronger and deeper.
Fall back in love with Jesus and find someone to show His love to tomorrow. Loving God and loving others go hand in hand. Don’t do good just because it’s what “you should do”, do it because you love the Lord with all your heart!
