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I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, . . . I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent, and do the works you did at first.¹

Who was the love the Ephesus church had at first? God acknowledges their work, their toil, and their patient endurance which accompanied being a follower of Christ; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.² Jesus commends them, in fact, for their works. But who is the love that they have abandoned?

Perhaps you are in the same predicament—committed, involved in the works of ministry, even zealous. But you’ve lost the motive behind the works–love.³ Perhaps you are adept and successful in what you do and have camped in your comfort zone. Or perhaps you once were much involved fishing for men; you would engage, establish, equip, and empower the disciples. But an offense has crept-in and lingered; thus, you have quit. Whatever situation that you are in, Jesus admonishes you to remember, to repent, and to rehash the past.

Remember. What made you seek after God? What predicament were you in? Remember how you were rescued? Were you desperate financially; but in answer to your prayer, you received a breakthrough? Were you terminally ill but miraculously healed? Were you stuck in a rot, addicted to drugs, bound by vices, drawn to foul relationships? But God drew you up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set your feet upon a rock, making your steps secure.⁴ If Jesus did it for you before, he will do it again. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.⁵

Repent. If you had received Jesus as your Lord and Savior,⁶ you were redeemed and accepted by the Beloved.⁷ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.⁸ Simply acknowledge your sin, confess it, and do an about face. No sin is greater than God’s grace.⁹

Rehash. Recall the basics; go back and do it all over again. Be involved. Be part of a small group. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. . . . apart from me you can do nothing.¹⁰ Follow Jesus, fish for men, fellowship with believers.¹¹ Engage the lost; Establish them in Spiritual foundations, Equip them for the work of ministry; Empower them to make disciples.¹²

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.¹³

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.¹⁴ AMEN