FIRST LOVE

1. "To the angel [messenger] of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He Who holds the seven stars in His right hand...
2. "Nevertheless I have this against you, THAT YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE.
3. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp-stand from its place—unless you repent."
   Revelation 2:1,4,5 (NKJV)

• Some started well in their Christian journeys and in the assignments given to them, but they started derailing when they lost focus:
"You were running the race so well. WHO has held you back from following the truth?" (Galatians 5:7).

• Jesus in His letter to the seven churches in Asia Minor, told the church of Ephesus that they have forsaken their first love, and they should repent (Revelation 2:4,5).

• And about the Laodicean church, in a letter to them, Jesus said: "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17).
The LAODICEAN church was situated in a wealthy city and the church was also wealthy; but in Jesus' sight, they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
ALSO, they were neither cold nor hot: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15).

• A number of Christians today are neither cold nor hot; they are tepid, lukewarm, not enthusiastic again about God and the things of the Kingdom (Revelation 3:15,16).

• Being tepid or lukewarm could be as a result of Comfort: wealth, luxury, and ease—you become puffed up with pride, confident with the self, satisfied and complacent.
  WHEN you think you have attained, you become tepid.

1. "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
2. Brethren, I DO NOT COUNT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED [laid hold of it]; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
3. I PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS."
   Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

• When you have wrong assumption of the self, you think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, then You become lukewarm spiritually (Romans 12:3).
YOU need to get your priorities right: when you centre your life primarily on the comfort and luxury, instead of finding true riches in your relationship with CHRIST—it is a misplaced priority.

• God does not see things the way we see things: "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused [rejected] him. FOR THE LORD DOES NOT SEE AS MAN SEES; FOR MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART" (1 Samuel 16:7).
YOU might be rated highly by men, or you rated yourself highly, while in God's sight or evaluation, you are nothing.

• The Church in Laodicea had wrong assumption of themselves; they were rich, they have become wealthy, they have need of nothing, thus they were confident, satisfied and complacent (Revelation 3:17).
  ALBEIT, Jesus rated them as wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

• In Jesus evaluations or assessments, How do you fare?

• You might be highly rated by humans as number one in your services to God, while God rated you as number nothing or the last.
• God's assessment or evaluation is more authentic than whatever anyone tells you about yourself.
  WHAT He says about your life and work is important than whatever anyone says.
  HUMAN beings are not always sincere, even if you are not doing well, they can be telling you, You are doing great, whereas you are not doing well at all.
  GOD'S assessment or evaluation is the best, if He says you are not doing well, just accept what He says.
  HE does not lie, deceive, or cajole people (Numbers 23:19).
  WHAT He says about the churches in Asia Minor was the truth about there state, condition, and how they fare.
  IF God in His mercy reveals your score card to you and you are able to know your performances; and if you are not doing well, you need not be discouraged, just amend your ways, get to know where you have missed it, what you have not been doing right as He wants, then right your wrongs, and forge ahead.

1. "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
2. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; BUT HE WHO JUDGES ME IS LORD.
3. Therefore judge nothing before the time, UNTIL THE LORD COMES, WHO WILL BOTH BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS AND REVEAL THE COUNSELS [motives] OF THE HEARTS. Then each one's praise will come from God."
   1 Corinthians 4:3-5 (NKJV)

• If you have forsaken your first love, or you have wrong assumption of the self, you should amend your ways.

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS, OR ELSE I WILL COME TO YOU QUICKLY AND REMOVE YOUR LAMP-STAND FROM ITS PLACE —UNLESS YOU REPENT."
Revelation 2:5 (NKJV)

• Repent that you may not lose your place (Revelation 2:5).

• Jesus' counsel:
"I COUNSEL YOU TO BUY FROM ME GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE 🔥, THAT YOU MAY BE RICH; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."
Revelation 3:18 (NKJV)

• You will do well to heed the counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!