THE HEART OF SERVICE (PART 4)

MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER

Revelation 2:1-5Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 To the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil andtrouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

At first glance, the testimony of the church at Ephesus looks wonderful and it is obvious that many of our churches today do not have anything close to what they had. The church of Ephesus was very hard working, but the Lord recognised that it was all empty service without an intimate relationship with him. He observed that they have left their first love. When a man leaves the place of personal communion with God, that is when he thinks he is doing God a favour by the things he is doing in the house of God and he begins to have problem with others and complain. None of us can live this christian life except by God’s help (Phil. 2:8-9). We are not what we are because we are smart. Except we continually depend on God and keep our communion with Him we will fail. But  no matter how ugly the situation is, when we trust in the Lord everything will end up for our good. God says His plans for you are good and not evil, and if we miss the way, we will hear His voice telling us, “this is the way, walk in it. Your walk with God is much more important than your service and religious activities. Get real with God and all will be well.