Corona Devo 3087
Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors, and there's all the people!
Did you learn this hand poem when you were small?
There is truth to it. At the heart of God's church are God's people. That's good news and bad news...and we all have testimonies and trials to prove it.
Churches are made up of people, and we are imperfect.
If we know and love the Lord, then we are trying to live for Him. And there are some things that we are no doubt doing well in that journey.
But we are human, and thus, we are sinful, and so there are also some things that we could improve upon within our faith walk.
Churches are made of people, and in the last book of the Bible, (Revelation), Jesus writes letters to seven churches.
These were actual churches in His day, and they were made up of people. Then and now (just as the children's song shows-and-tells)-- churches are made up of people.
Open each (of the seven) churches, and Jesus has a unique message to each. We can receive and be taught today from these messages that Jesus gives. The first letter is to the people in the church of Ephesus.
Like a good parent/coach/boss/manager/mentor...Jesus begins by encouraging each church, and then He will challenge them in areas of growth.
What are they doing well in the church of Ephesus? (What should we aspire to do well...as we follow Christ as individuals and as churches?) Let's see.
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. ~Revelation 2:2
Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that He sees them. He knows all the (good) things they do. He has seen their hard work and their patient endurance.
Ahhhh. Isn't that life-giving to hear?
Let the Lord speak into our hearts today, too, Church. He knows all the things you do. He has seen your hard work and your patient endurance.
It feels good.
It feels good to be under His steeple, in His church, and one of His people.
I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. (3) You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. ~Revelation 2:2-3
The church of Ephesus is not allowing the religious-but-not-of-God wool to be pulled over their eyes. They have their spiritual antennae up, and they are investigating (examining) the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not.
We must be like the church of Ephesus, friends. Jesus is complementing them because they are examining the source and the content of what is being preached to them.
They were a church. They would expect those that speak to be speaking God's truth, but Jesus points out (and compliments) that we should examine the claims of those who say they are of-the-Lord, but are not.
Don't be duped. The church at Ephesus wasn't, and Jesus was proud of them for it. We want Him to be proud of us too. Examine the claims to determine if they are liars.
Jesus would not say this unless it had bearing on Believer's lives.
~~~
Jesus compliments one other quality in the church of Ephesus: You have patiently suffered for me without quitting (Revelation 2:3).
Did we need to hear this compliment today from our Savior who also suffered?
Keep suffering patiently today. Don't quit today.
Jesus sees us today, and He compliments those who are patiently suffering for Him without quitting today.
~~~
Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors, and there's all the people!
The problem is: we are just people. Fallible, human, sinful, short-falling people. God has some one-to-grow-ons, and we knew that this was coming.
We try, and we succeed often for our Lord. But we (definitely) have room to grow in our faith and in our faithfulness to God.
The tips that Jesus gave to the church at Ephesus sound amazingly applicable to you and me too:
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! (5) Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. ~Revelation 2:4-5
Where has our zeal for our Lord gone?
How could that be?
But it's true, isn't it? Life happens. Success happens. Trauma happens. Hurt happens.
Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors, and here's all the fickle people! We forget the depth of sin that God has forgiven us of. Our gratitude grows stale and our schedules stack-up until...unintentionally, but absolutely,...we don’t love God or each other as we did at first (Revelation 2:4).
It is out of love that Jesus speaks, and in love He makes it very simple for us to get back on track: Turn back to me and do the works you did at first (Revelation 2:4).
We can do that today, Friends. And we can do that with God's help (and His Word) today.
- Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ~Romans 12:11
- That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. (13) Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. ~Joel 2:12-13
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God. ~Revelation 2:7
Let's stay on the path to victory today. We are just people, but we are God's people. We are the church. Let's be encouraged and challenged by God and His Word to live like it.
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