Keep Loving

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:15-16

Last week, a friend sent me a text, attaching a letter I had written her when my family was preparing to move to Dallas. It was a kind of “goodbye” letter, and closed with, “don’t forget me!” I wrote what I appreciated about her: her love of children and talent for teaching, her love for the church and the importance of relationships within it; her own love for the Lord. The letter was motivated by affection – and by my reluctance and even fear of leaving friends like her. 

Paul the apostle, filled with the Holy Spirit, wrote to individuals and to churches as a pastor, and he almost always began with encouraging words, mentioning, with thanksgiving, qualities God was producing among them. To the churches in Philippi (Philippians 1:9), Colosse (Colossians 1:3), Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:3), and Ephesus (Ephesians 1:15), Paul described evidence of God’s power in their lives, demonstrated by love. 

In the book of Revelation, the glorified Jesus appeared to the apostle John in a vision and directed him to write letters to seven churches, beginning with the church at Ephesus. As with Paul, commendation came first: the Lord said to the Ephesian Christians, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance” (Revelation 2:2, NIV translation). He praised their rejection of falsehood and their endurance through hardship. But then the Lord said, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:2-4).

What happened? The Ephesian church had been known for its love—love for the Savior Himself and for His people. What happened to the believers in Ephesus in one or two generations, so that the Lord called them out and called them back to active love?

The New Testament warns of love lost—love that must be the very hallmark of Jesus’ people. Jesus, on the night before He died, told His disciples they would be identified by their love (John 13:35). His people must be a vibrant contrast with the world Paul wrote about to Timothy, saying in the “last days…people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, … ungrateful, …lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

The Ephesian believers guarded their doctrine, which Paul had urged them to do (Acts 20:28-34). They stood fast under pressure from the world. But Jesus warned them to repent and turn back to love for Him and for each other. Scripture withholds details so that we examine ourselves. Was it pride, arguing, or competition over positions? Did the affluent begin to separate themselves, or was there envy of status and privilege? Did separation of ethnic groups raise its head?

What assaults love today among Christians? Do preferences of church activities divide us? Are we always insistent on convenience and comfort—and being with friends? Are we easily offended? Do we defend ourselves and continue to resent challenges and disagreements? Do we separate because of political alignments?

And we must ask ourselves, is there even a cooling in our love for our Savior? We, like the ancient Ephesians, are strongly called to turn around and turn back to His cross and the intensity and eternity of His mighty love. Only in His profound loyalty can we keep loving.

 

* Author’s note: ESV Bible translation used except where otherwise noted.