‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 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.”

Revelation 2:2-4

While on the road this weekend we visited a small church in northern Michigan where the pastor referred to the passage above and it prompted me to compare the church at Ephesus to the church at Philadelphia I mentioned one-day last week.

Both churches demonstrated the courage to stand and endure against the enemies of Christ, but the difference is found in their love or lack of it as in the case of Ephesus.

How tragic would it be to do all the right things and it be found lacking because “you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

In the passage from Revelation 2:5, Jesus encourages the church at Ephesus to:

Remember: Take some time to reflect on how things used to be. Recollect how passionate you were for the things of God, not so long ago.

Repent: Repentance takes us to the next step beyond just admitting sin. Repentance requires change.

Respond: Jesus tells the church at Ephesus to “do the works you did at first.”

From time to time, I think we all need an attitude check. Are we acting out of love or just doing what is right by going through the motions?