Jesus, to the church at Ephesus:

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

(Revelation 2:2–5)

It’s interesting that the church of Ephesus, a church of relatively prominent and privileged status throughout the New Testament, is here commended for their diligence, perseverance, and intolerance of sin and false teachers, yet rebuked for forsaking their devotion to Christ.

It appears they had it all lined up– right doctrine … call out sinful behaviors … expose false teachers … endure hardship and persecution … Why??? To what end… Ummm…

At some point they lost their “why”, being driven by something other than genuine love for Jesus and his mission in the world. It seems safe to say, that absent of their love for Jesus, they failed to love others in executing all of their ‘rightness.’

They substituted the most fundamental and primary command to “love God with all your heart … and love your neighbor as yourself,” and similarly, “love your enemies” (Matt. 22:37; 5:44-45), with some other desire, aim, and agenda. Jesus both commends and confronts them, giving them the opportunity to repent lest …. well, I’m sure they don’t want to test him on this! (cf. Matthew 7:21-23)

Ultimately, Jesus’ words were written as an admonition to all his people. To take pause and ponder with the Spirit, in considering the state of our own hearts amid the “good work” we believe ourselves to be doing. Here, it’s possible to be right, in a very wrong way.

Lord, help us to hear your voice, check our hearts, and ever be reorienting ourselves to your heart and the way of the gospel of your Kingdom.