Today’s Reading:
Revelation 2:1-7 (4-6)
"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks amid the seven golden lampstands: ”I know your works, your labour; 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 liar, and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ”He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is amid the Paradise of God.”

Ephesus was a capital city of Asia Minor, an important seaport and a major cultural, commercial, and religious centre. She was famous for her temple to Artemis, its superstitious practices, and magical arts (Acts 19:19, 35). The word Nicolaitan is formed from two Greek words (nikao and laos) which means ‘overcomers of the people’, or ‘people conquerors’. The word could also be stressing how authoritarian the group is. Not so much is known about the Nicolaitan, but their teachings (v. 15) link them to those who were sacrificed to idols and who were involved with sexual immorality, behaviour prohibited by the council in Jerusalem (acts 15:20, 29) “… that you have left your first love.” (v.4) Paul ministered in Ephesus for about three years and warned them about false teachers who would come into their midst and try to lure them away from the faith (Acts 20:29-31). False teachers indeed caused problems for them, but the church resisted as we can see in Paul’s farewell letter to them where he prayed that God would grant all those who loved Jesus sincerely with grace (Eph. 6:24). This addresses the traditional bond which binds Christians who were faithful but have lost their early, zealous love for Christ and each other (2:5).
Just as young lovers, when we first gave our lives to Christ, it is usual to experience a series of feelings of joy, peace, maybe a new sense of freedom from forgiveness of sin, a desire to love and to follow God with all our heart. God then became our first love. We do things to please God with much zeal. But when we lose sight of the seriousness of sin when other things creep into our lives in the way of fervently loving God - like other relationships, careers, studies, and going to church, we begin to lose the thrill of our freedom, the our feelings will gradually dwindle.
In the case of the church at Ephesus, the founding fathers of the churches have died and generations that followed do not exhibit the same zeal for things of God. The same thing today, the church fathers of revivals are all gone, and the following generations have lost the zeal to love God through Jesus Christ. Fine, the churches are busy with activities to benefit themselves and the community, but is it with godly motives? Whereas the work for God must be motivated by the love of God, if not, it will not last. We are being encouraged to spend more time in prayer inviting God to show us anything or anyone that has replaced Christ in our lives. Ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to return us to our original love for Him. The reward for obedience is fruit from the tree of life which is eternal life (22:2; Gen. 3:22).
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident pastor or priest.
Prayer:
Thank You, Jesus, that You are faithful and trustworthy, that You love me and have once for all freed me from my sins by Your blood.
O Lord, grant that I will never leave you or lose the depth of the love I first had for You, in Jesus' name.
Create in me a pure heart, O Lord; renew a right, humble and teachable spirit within me, in Jesus' name.
Holy Spirit, clothe me with your power, fire, and the enablement to love and serve Christ, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, visit Christian marriages and homes on the verge of collapse with your love and mercy and reconcile families, in Jesus' name.
O God El Roi, direct the path of our children, youth, and young adults to Your path of righteousness, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, rescue the perishing, those in captivity and bondage to the evil one, in Jesus' name.
Unit the body of Christ with your love to harmoniously proclaim the Gospel of truth, in Jesus' name.
We commit the leaders of the church to Your care, Lord; grant them the fear of You in all their decisions, in Jesus' name.
O Shepherd of Israel, You who leads Joseph like a flock, You who dwells amid cherubims, shine forth. Stir up Your strength and come and save the nations of the world, especially our nation Nigeria. Turn us again, and cause your face to shine, and we shall be saved, in Jesus' name.
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