EPISTLE: Revelation 2:1-7

Reading:
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;   I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:   And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.   Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.   Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.   But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Commentary:
Christ lives in the midst of His Church.  He is never apart from us, but always with us in the midst of every Christian congregation, hence, "these things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."  God's message to the Ephesian congregation was that He knew their works, labors, and patience.  These were spiritual works and labors, and likewise spiritual patience.  Nothing goes unnoticed by our good Lord above, and Jesus is pleased when we do His will, living a holy life by faith.  The Ephesians were likewise careful to test the prophets, which is this case were false (and found liars).  Thus a congregation is always to check and compare the teachings of their pastor with the Word of God, and not just say "pastor says" such and such, as if the pastor is the final authority and not God's Word.  While the Lord really was very pleased with the congregation overall, they had a fault.  They had left their first love.  Their love for Christ and His salvation was decreasing rather than increasing.  There was need for repentance.