Our First Love

My pastor was talking about the Church of Ephesus from Revelation chapter two. It's a passage I have often thought applied to many churches I've attended. And I'm not naming names, just talking about what I've witnessed. I think it's important to study the churches in Revelation, to see if you recognize any behaviour and habits. They were put there for our instruction after all, so we can avoid their end.

What's the Church of Ephesus's problem? Well, let's start with what they've done right first.

They are zealous against false doctrine. That's really important.

They have been patient, laboured hard, and not fainted.

All good things.

But they've left their first love.

I've been in many churches who are zealous about doctrine, but they've forgotten the love. God is more than judgement and justice, or else He'd have never sent His Son to die for us.

I forget the love sometimes. And yet, the love reminds me of His righteousness.

For if He didn't need to judge the world of sin there would have been no need for a Saviour.

His love and His judgement are a packaged deal. You can't have one without the other.

Which brings me to the passage I'd read in my personal devotions the day after Pastor preached. I was in 2 Thessalonians chapter three. There is a lot about judging and separating yourselves from those with false doctrine. It's something I know the denomination I belong to is really passionate about and dedicated to--with good cause. I mean the chapter is full about how we should do that!

Yet the love is in that passage too. I think we see so much of the judgement we forget some of the last verses.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thess. 3:13-15

They are not the enemy. In separation, the line is often a little burry. We can get so zealous like the Ephesians that we forget our love--not just our love for them, but our love for God too.

They are your brother in Christ. Separate yourselves from false doctrine, but don't treat them like the enemy. There is such a balance to the Christian life, and this is one of those moments.

Love and judgement go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other.