Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.—Amos 3:7
I read this in Amos this morning and as I read Revelation 2, it was clear that God still warns His people before judgment comes. (Revelation 2:4-5)
1. “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (Revelation 2:1-5, ESV)
God warned the Church at Ephesus that if they did not repent and do the works they did at first, He would remove their lampstand. To be a Christian is to first and foremost love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 says this:
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all that you do be done with love.
Yes, we are to do all for which the Church at Ephesus was commended. They watched. They were brave and strong. Truly as the KJV says they, “quit like men.” Their doctrine, their moral purity, their zeal for the truth and their disciplined service, were however, no substitute for the love of their Savior which they had abandoned. As believers, love for God must define us and characterize all we do and say. The Ephesians church was missing this key ingredient. Love for Christ was no longer the motivating force behind their works. They had become “clanging symbols” because without His love we are nothing and can do nothing good.
If I feel myself going awry during the day, it is ALWAYS helpful for me to remember love. Love never fails because love is of God. When we walk in love, we walk effectively not only temporally but also eternally. I love thinking on that. Loving others with God’s love has eternal consequences. God’s love reaches beyond this world and into eternity.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.—1 Corinthians 13:2
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,”“You shall not covet,”fn and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.—Romans 13:8-10
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