August 10, 2009 - Jesus' Personal Words To The Churches (I)

Meditation on Revelation 2

Chapter two and three is the letter to the seven churches by Jesus through John. Christ, the head of the church walks among the churches to examine them. (v. 1) Generally scholars take the descriptions of these seven churches as representation of the conditions of the churches throughout history. We must take heed of the warning as well as the commendations and commands of Christ to the churches.

The four churches in chapter two are the church at Ephesus whose love to the Lord grows cold, the church at Smyrna, the suffering church, the church at Pergamum, who compromises with the worldly teaching and immorality, and the church at Thyatira who tolerate a false preacher and her cult.

As you read about these churches, you undoubtedly would have learned so much about Christ's teaching, concern and encouragement of His churches. Allow me to just emphasize the warning for the Ephesian church. This was a great church at the beginning. It had great preachers and pastors who ministered to them including the apostle Paul. Most likely, it was a mother church of the rest of the churches in the neighboring towns. They kept sound doctrines and had perseverance in the faith. Yet Christ said that they had left their first love. (v. 4)

A church may be faithful in their tasks yet are cold toward the Lord and the brethren in reality. Christ notices that. He wants that kind of church to remember where they have fallen, and repent and do the deeds they did at first. Or else he is coming to remove their church before Him.

May we love the Lord with fervent heart today.