We’ve all had the experience of driving a car with tires out of alignment. The vehicle invariably pulls to one side or the other negatively impacting both handing and safety. Just like our vehicles, our lives are also susceptible to misalignment. When our lives are misaligned, it’s because our priorities have become disordered and are no longer in synch with God’s purposes. This post will show us how not only how to get the most out of the new year but also the most out of life.
In the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3 are painted in red, signifying the direct words of Jesus to His church. These passages, often overlooked, carry a profound message intended to encourage, caution, and inspire hope among believers. As Jesus addressed the seven churches in Asia Minor, His words weren’t exclusive to those particular congregations; they were a direct communication to His followers—each one of us.
The spotlight begins with the Ephesian church, a congregation nestled in a city marked by both cultural allure and moral decay. Ephesus, dubbed "the Light of Asia," housed the grand Temple of Diana, an architectural marvel adorned with opulence and dedicated to a debauched pagan deity. The city's culture fostered vice, and even Heraclitus, a native philosopher, condemned its morality as lower than that of animals.
Yet, amidst this cultural quagmire, the church in Ephesus thrived initially. Founded by luminaries like Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and John, it witnessed radical conversions and societal transformations. These early believers embraced Christianity, leaving behind idol worship and leading lives that reflected Christ’s teachings.
Jesus commends the Ephesians for their fervor, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the faith. Their diligence, refusal to tolerate evil, and resilience in adversity gained Jesus's acknowledgment. However, amidst these commendable traits, Jesus delivers a troubling message: "You have left your first love."
Jesus’ complaint is not that they don't love him.
His complaint is they don't love him first.
The heart of Jesus's concern isn’t a complete absence of love but the shift in priorities. The Ephesians were performing commendable deeds, yet their love for Christ no longer occupied the primary position in their lives. This indictment is a sobering reminder that it's not merely what we do that matters; it's the heart behind our actions—the priority we place on our relationship with God.
God cannot be secondary; He insists on being our top priority. Despite claiming to love Christ, if He isn't the unequivocal centerpiece of our lives, we risk placing something else on the throne of our hearts. Jesus's lament isn’t just an admonishment to the Ephesians but a wake-up call for all believers.
We often claim to prioritize God, family, work, and other facets of life in a neatly arranged hierarchy. However, genuine Christian living isn't compartmentalized. It's about embracing a holistic priority—loving Christ first and foremost in every sphere of our existence.
The danger lies in being overtaken by self-righteousness. Righteousness can morph into self-righteousness, leading us to condemn others, creating a divisive atmosphere rather than fostering love and compassion. We become so fixated on being right that we forget the commandment to love our neighbors.
God cannot be second.
Jesus never employed righteousness as a weapon. His teachings emphasize the primacy of love above all else. The peril for the church in Ephesus wasn't doctrinal purity but losing sight of love—neglecting the essence of their relationship with Christ.
We must be vigilant, ensuring that our pursuit of truth doesn’t eclipse our love for others. The danger of being consumed by correctness is that it can alienate us from the very people God loves.
Ultimately, Jesus's message to the church in Ephesus is a call to reassess our priorities. It’s a reminder that God demands the primary place in our hearts and lives. May we strive to align our actions, thoughts, and affections with the truth that loving Christ first is the cornerstone of genuine Christian living.
In the often-ignored, red-painted chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, Jesus addresses the seven churches in Asia Minor with a message that transcends time—a direct communication intended for all His followers. These passages hold a profound significance, aiming to encourage, caution, and inspire hope among believers.
The spotlight falls on the Ephesian church, nestled in a city teeming with both cultural allure and moral decay. Ephesus, acclaimed as "the Light of Asia," boasted the grand Temple of Diana—a stunning architectural marvel dedicated to a debauched pagan deity. Amidst this decadent culture, the church in Ephesus thrived initially, founded by influential figures like Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and John. Witnessing radical conversions and societal transformations, these early believers embraced Christianity, relinquishing idol worship and living lives aligned with Christ’s teachings.
Commending the Ephesians for their fervor, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the faith, Jesus acknowledges their diligence, refusal to tolerate evil, and resilience in adversity. However, amid these commendable traits, Jesus issues a troubling message: "You have left your first love."
Jesus's concern doesn’t stem from a complete absence of love but from a shift in priorities. The Ephesians were engaging in commendable deeds, yet their love for Christ no longer held the primary position in their lives. This indictment serves as a sobering reminder that our actions must stem from a heart devoted to God—a priority on our relationship with Him.
God cannot be secondary; He demands to be our top priority. Despite claiming love for Christ, if He isn't the unequivocal centerpiece of our lives, we risk placing something else on the throne of our hearts. Jesus's lament isn’t just directed at the Ephesians but stands as a wake-up call for all believers.
Often, we articulate our priorities—God, family, work—in a structured hierarchy. Yet, genuine Christian living isn't about compartmentalizing these facets. It's about embracing a holistic priority—loving Christ first and foremost in every aspect of our existence.
It’s not what I SAY, but HOW I LIVE that really defines
what is most important to me.
The danger lies in succumbing to self-righteousness, where righteousness mutates into condemnation and division, overshadowing love and compassion. Our fixation on being right often sidelines the commandment to love our neighbors.
Jesus never weaponized righteousness. His teachings emphasize love above all else. The Ephesian church's peril wasn’t merely about doctrinal purity but about losing sight of love—the essence of their relationship with Christ.
We must be vigilant, ensuring that our pursuit of truth doesn’t eclipse our love for others. Being consumed by correctness can alienate us from those whom God loves dearly.
Ultimately, Jesus's message to the church in Ephesus calls for a reassessment of our priorities. It’s a poignant reminder that God demands the primary place in our hearts and lives. May we strive to align our actions, thoughts, and affections with the truth that loving Christ first is the cornerstone of genuine Christian living.
- Senior Pastor Keith Stewart | Springcreek Church
Alignment
