Love Needs to Come First

Revelation 2:1-7 KJV

1 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; 2 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: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 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. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 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.

The church of Ephesus was commended for many good things. If we look at the church of Ephesus from a worldly perspective, they were a "good" church. However, Christ had one complaint (and it was a big one).

They had left their first love.

Who is their first love?

Jesus Christ!

They were doing good works, but for the wrong reasons. They were no longer doing them out of love for Christ which means they weren't doing them out of love for others because Christ calls us to love.

This passage is evidence that we must always do what we do out of love. If we have deeds but not love, then it is meaningless.

Love needs to come first. Love needs to be always at the forefront.