Our church did a sermon series on Revelation recently. Most of us are quite familiar with the letters to the seven churches. There are many lessons that can apply to us in these letters. However, I would like to highlight the letter to the church in Ephesus for our consideration.
The one issue that the Lord had against the church in Ephesus is that they had “abandoned the love you had at first.” (verse 4). The letter acknowledged that the church had toiled faithfully, tried to remain righteous, testing false prophets, endured patiently, bearing the name of the Lord and had not grown weary (verses 2 and 3). But alas, they had abandoned the love they had at first. I wonder whether this is a situation familiar to many of us.
Much like Singapore, the city of Ephesus was a major trading centre because of its strategic location. It played a significant role in the spread of Christianity. The Apostle Paul lived there for a period.
How then can we not fall into the trap of abandoning our first love? Perhaps Paul foresaw that danger for the church in Ephesus and he prayed a prayer for them in Ephesus 3:14-21. One of the things Paul prayed for in the prayer was that the believers in Ephesus would be “rooted and grounded in love, and would have the strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” (verse 17-19).
How can we guard against abandoning our first love? Maybe one of the things that we can do is to consistently pray the same prayer for ourselves and the church that Paul prayed for the Ephesians – that we will be able to understand the love that God has for us as much as humanly possible and appreciate that His love surpasses the knowledge of our limited human minds.
To Him be the glory in the church throughout all generations!
Deacon Michael Teo
