Thought of the Day !!

"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!"
Revelation 2:2-4 (NLT)

The Revelation of John is what Jesus shows John to write down. And at this point He wants John to speak to the Church of Ephesus these observations.

Jesus compliments them on their hard work and patient endurance. He appreciates the fact that they fight against bad theology and evil in general. He takes notice of the fact that through everything they have not quit Him.

BUT!

There's that word that changes things. In this case it changes the tone of the letter. It goes from being complimentary to being critical. The Ephesians had continued to work for Jesus, BUT they had forgotten the reason they began. They had lost their passionate love that resulted in them being hard workers in the first place.

We can go to church and have a very good resume of good works. But if we decide when and where and whom to serve...if we simply do the works of God because we have too or because it's what we're supposed to do and so we do it begrudgingly...then we've lost something. Let us remember that doing the right things for the wrong reasons just ain't good enough. We should never forget the love that brought us into the Kingdom in the first place. If anyone does, then seek it like a precious jewel or a hidden treasure. Because that's what love of God and each other truly is.

In the love of Christ,
greg