Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus:

“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. Otherwise I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.

Revelation 2:1-6 HCSB

Several weeks ago, I was driving my seven year old niece to her first cross country meet. I was telling her that if she gets tired to pray for God to give her strength. She said, “You want me to just stop during the race and pray?” I told her, “No, just keep running, keep your eyes open and pray.”  She then asked if I actually wanted her to pray out loud while she was running. I told her that she could just think about what she wanted to say to God and she didn’t have to say it out loud. She loudly, exclaimed, “What? Do you mean that God knows what I am thinking?!”

I think we sometimes forget that God knows what we are thinking. We often forget that He knows what’s deep inside our hearts. In our scripture passage today, he commends the church at Ephesus for all their good works and their good behavior and their discernment as well as their endurance. But he tells them that they have abandoned the love they had at first.

Have you ever been in love? I mean that kind of love where you go to sleep thinking about that person and wake up thinking about that person. Have you ever been so in love with someone that you were eager to please them and make them happy? I’m talking about that kind of selfless love where you put the needs and wants of the other person first with no regard for yourself. This typically describes new love. When we enter into a relationship we put our best foot forward. We surprise the person with little gifts. We go the extra mile to make them happy. But as time goes on we become complacent. Once we know that we have won their hearts, we get comfortable and we don’t put forth the effort.

Now the church at Ephesus seems to be putting forth the effort but their hearts just aren’t in it. Now if you have ever been in love, at some point you have probably experienced the kind of complacency we are talking about here. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He didn’t just say to love the Lord. He said to love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27). He tells them that if they don’t repent, He will remove their lampstands or their usefulness as a local church, ouch!

If we are totally honest with ourselves, we don’t want someone to half-heartedly love us, right? We want them to love us with all they have. We want them to love us with all their soul, all their heart, and all their mind. Well, God expects the same from us.

There is no greater love than the love that God has for us (John 15:13, John 3:16). If you have never experienced that love, then I encourage you to call out to God, draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:9). Trust in Him, repent of your sins and allow Him to cleanse you and make you whole. Experience that love and the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

If you have been saved, but your service has become robotic then I encourage you to rekindle that passion that you once had. Fall in love with God all over again. Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to the ways of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. The world gets in our way, we must constantly renew our love for God.

He knows what you are thinking and He knows what’s in your heart. If your heart’s not in it, it shows. If your work for God has become robotic and without feeling, repent, turn to God and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Ask him to renew your mind daily. Lamentations 3:22-24 tells us that because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning. God’s faithfulness is great! His love never fails us. He never forsakes or abandons us. Have you abandoned the love you once had for Him?

There is no better time to turn to Him and trust in Him. He is there for you, He waits with open arms.

15 days ago, I challenged you to make some positive changes in your life. Have you done that? If so, how’s it going? I am happy to say that I decided to exercise five days a week. I am halfway through and I am happy to report that it is becoming a habit. I had to intentionally do this. I had to set time aside. I had to put my heart in it. We must do the same with our relationship with our Lord and Savior. I promise you it will be time and effort well spent.

Have a great day!