Devotional – Ephesus in review
Revelation 2:2–3 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.”
Jesus commends this Church—Ephesus—for four powerful qualities:
A Serving Church
He says, “I know your works…”—Ephesus was active in ministry, not idle or indifferent. They served faithfully.
A Sacrificing Church
He notes their “labor”—a word that means exhausting effort. This was a church that gave of themselves completely for the Lord’s work.
A Steadfast Church
Jesus praises their “patience” and perseverance. In the face of trial, opposition, and hardship, they endured without giving up.
A Spiritual Church
He says they “cannot bear those who are evil,” and that they tested those claiming to be apostles but were not. This church valued truth and holiness, guarding the flock from corruption and false teaching.
Paul, years earlier, had warned the Ephesian elders with tears:
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” — Acts 20:29–31
Now, some thirty years later, Jesus Himself affirms that they heeded Paul’s warning. They stayed vigilant. They stayed true.
Would Jesus say the same of us today? That we serve, sacrifice, endure, and stand for truth in an age that often rejects it? May our own hearts and churches reflect the same commitment Ephesus once had—and more importantly, may our love for Jesus burn just as bright.
Revelation 2:4 “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
After all the commendable traits of the Ephesian Church—serving, sacrificing, steadfast, spiritual—Jesus delivers a piercing truth: they had left their first love.
Notice:
Jesus didn’t say they lost it.
He said they left it.
That implies a drifting away, a conscious turning of the heart.
This was a Church full of right deeds… but they had drifted from deep devotion.
They were doing the right things—but not from the right heart.
It’s possible to serve Christ with great effort, defend truth with boldness, and yet do it all with a heart that has grown cold. Duty without devotion. Works without worship. Activity without affection.
The heart of the Christian life is not how much we do for Christ, but how deeply we love Him.
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…” (Matthew 22:37). That love must be the source of everything else.
How does this happen?
We become so busy with ministry that we neglect intimacy.
We focus on defending the truth but forget to dwell with the One who is the Truth.
We start prioritizing service over surrender.
Jesus knows our hearts. He walks among His churches and says, “I know…”
He sees beyond our busyness to what truly motivates us.
Has your love cooled? Have you left your first love?
The good news is, Jesus not only exposes the problem—He gives the remedy.
Revelation 2:5, where Jesus gives His loving but urgent call to action. He never exposes a heart condition without offering a way back.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Here, Jesus lays out three clear steps to restore love and fellowship with Him:
1. Remember
“Remember from where you have fallen…”
The first step back to Christ is memory.
We must reflect and recall the depth and joy of our early love for Jesus—when He was our everything, when worship was sweet, and time in the Word was rich.
Ask yourself: Was there a time when I loved Jesus more deeply than I do now?
When prayer wasn’t a duty but a delight?
When I longed to be with Him, not just serve Him?
2. Repent
“Repent…”
Repentance means turning around—changing direction.
It’s not just about feeling guilty. It’s about returning.
Jesus doesn’t want more effort—He wants your heart.
The root issue in Ephesus wasn’t moral failure—it was misplaced affection. They needed to repent of putting other things—even good things—above their love for Christ.
3. Repeat
“Do the first works…”
Go back to the basics.
Spend unhurried time in His presence.
Read His Word with a hungry heart.
Pray not just to get through a list, but to hear His voice.
Worship like no one else is watching.
Do again the things you did when love was fresh.
A Solemn Warning “…or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
The lampstand represents the church’s testimony—its light in a dark world.
Jesus says if love is not restored, the light will be removed. A loveless church may still be busy, orthodox, and respected—but in Christ’s eyes, it is no longer effective or alive.
Reflection: Has your heart drifted?
Jesus is not asking for empty busyness or religious effort—He wants you.
He longs for love restored, for the flame to burn again.
Today, He invites us to remember, repent, and return.