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.

Revelation 1:4-8

To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the
earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made
us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and
power for ever and ever! Amen.
7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall
it be! Amen.
8”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and
who is to come, the Almighty.”

Meditation:
1. Read the passage aloud and pay attention to the characteristics and actions
of God described in this passage.
2. Look at the sky, or close your eyes and reflect on how God has brought
victory to all mankind, including me.
3. What does the proclamation in v8 “I am alpha and omega” mean to my faith
and life today?

Personal Note:
Jesus Christ is the God eternal.  He is here from the beginning till the end.  Glory and power to Jesus Christ as we have conquered death and sin.

In the world I live in, we have this defeated attitude in almost every arenas in life.  I see people living out defeated attitude in their school life, social life, marriage, career, family, addictions, etc.  People are seeking to find victory and accomplishments through success in gaming, career, lust, etc...  As followers of Christ, we have overcome death and evil in this world, through the blood of Christ.