Revelation 2:1-7  The letter to Ephesus.

Verse 1 is a picture of Jesus as "the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands.. " 

Jesus has already explained to John that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands are the seven churches.  Angels = messengers.. pastors.  The Lord Jesus, even now holds the pastors of His church in His hand.. in His right hand, the hand of power.  He walks in the midst of His people.  He is intimately acquainted with His people.. His bride.   He knows their victories and He knows their failures.

Jesus wants the church to know that He sees them.  He knows their deeds.. their good works.  The church in Ephesus had toiled and persevered.  They had endured persecution.  They had discerned the false teachings and removed them.  But...

".. I have this against you, that you have left your first love.." 

Matthew recorded the words of Jesus in 24:12 "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold."   Jeremiah also  wrote about this.. the Lord said, " I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothals, your following after Me in the wilderness.... but My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.. "  Israel turned from the Lord their God, forsaking Him who had led them out of Egypt and given them the promised land.

The church in Ephesus was in danger of being removed.. "unless you repent".   "Do the deeds you did at first" the Lord tells them.  Repent - think differently, reconsider, reform.  

Perhaps the church had become fixated with their good works.  Perhaps they had become proud of their strength to persevere. We easily fall into the habits of christian life - going to church, reading the Bible, even praying and worshiping.. but if our passion for the Lord and Savior is missing... we need desperately to repent.. 

Love - John's favorite subject in his epistles,  is what our God desires more than anything else.  The greatest commandment, Jesus said, is " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind... The second is like it , 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'".

 In II Thessalonians 3:5 Paul prays, " And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ."   This may be the most important prayer that we can pray so that we can reconsider, reform.. repent of our lack of love..

Our loving Savior,  You know us intimately and love us passionately.  You are calling us back into a love relationship with You that is more important than doing good deeds or perseverance in suffering.  Forgive us.  Change our cold hearts, reigniting our passion, our devotion, and our intimacy with You, beyond anything we have known before.  We bow before You and plead for grace, mercy, and peace, and love, multiplied to Your people, all who call You upon Your Name.  In the Name of Jesus, the One who holds us and walks among us, we pray. Amen.