Revelation 2:1-7

1”To the angel 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 lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work
and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you
have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them
false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have
not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5Remember the height from which 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. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the
tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Meditation
1. Think about our own church. In what ways is it similar to the church at
Ephesus?
2. Focus on the relationship between me and the Lord. How does v.4 speak to
me? Have I walked away from my first love for the Lord?
3. How can I regain that first love? What have distracted me from the Lord? In
what areas should I repent? If I haven’t walked away from my first love, how
can I continue to be faithful and in love with God?

Personal Note:
In my church, I see there is a group of brothers and sisters who are willing to labour and endure hardship because of the name of Jesus Christ.  When I reflect on myself, am I engaging in the actions because of the love of Jesus Christ?  When ministry work is done apart from the response to God's love, it is futile and useless.

There is nothing I can do in my own will and power to regain that first love.  God's grace of salvation was a free gift in the beginning.  To regain that first love, I have to humble before God and repent.  Just like how he unconditionally loved and saved me when I was a young believer, I can continue to be faithful and in love with God through repentance and do the things I did at first.

The things I did at first was praying for all occasions.  I remembered that I used to spend lots of time praying for pretty much anything by myself and with brothers and sisters.  Secondly, I had a great interest in God's Words and who God is.  I remembered that I spend lots of time reading and reflecting on God's Words.  Thirdly, I was eager to bond with brothers and sisters and have some burdens to pray for them and encourage them.

Romans 16:1-6

 1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2I
ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her
any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people,
including me. 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
4They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles
are grateful to them. 5Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my
dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

Meditation
1. The list of names in this chapter displays something of the network of warm
and loving relationships which bound the early church together.  Paul was not
just a theologian, he was a friend.  He did not just count up converts; he cared
for people as individuals.
2. Let this remind us that in the eyes of God and in the church of Jesus, each
person is important enough to be known by name.
3. How many people do I know by name at my church?  Bring out the church
directory and read it through.  Upon the ones I don’t recognize, make a check
mark beside it.  Begin to notice and get to know these brothers and sisters in
the church.

Personal Note:
This is a reminder for me as I am planning for 2012.  I look at all the names that come across Crossroad in the past 2 years.  We have over 70 names that came across Crossroad.  The mission of Crossroad is to lead people to become followers of Jesus Christ.  Do we care for people as individuals.

As I look at the directory of the whole church, there are many names that I do not recognize.  I have set a goal this year to meet 10 new people in the church.