Revelation 2:1-7

To the angel (pastor) of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands. 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 lamp stand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.- Revelation 2:1-7

Dear Jesus,

In your words to the ancient church in Ephesus, I hear you speaking to me and my church.  You are pleased that we stand up for good, watch out that we teach truth and endure hardships for the gospel, but you never want us to think that the things we do replace just living in the love you have shared with us.  It was your love that melted my hard heart and made me deal with my selfishness.  It was your love that catapulted me into service into your kingdom.  It is your love that saved and made me what I was always supposed to be.  Don't ever let me lose sight of your love that makes me a person of love.  Otherwise I will be an empty shell and clanging tin can. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Truth and love are two sides of the same coin.  We never really have one without the other.