WHY it matters//
Jesus says in Matthew 22 that the greatest command that we have as Christians is to love Him with all of our heart, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourself. This is much easier quoted than accomplished. In fact, Jesus says in John 13 that we should be known by our love. What we love the most will determine everything else. The church has a first calling to love Jesus above anything else. When we are consumed with love for Him our Christian life flows from that intimacy.
WHAT it's talking about//
The book of Revelation is an Apocalyptic writing, meaning it is highly symbolic and concerns prophecy about the end days and the return of Jesus to the Earth. It contains heavenly encounters that John the Apostle has with Jesus while exiled on the Island of Patmos under the persecution of the Roman emperor Domitian in 95 AD. The overall theme is that those who believe in Jesus will overcome all the powers of satan once and for all in the culmination of this age. This book was addressed to the churches in Asia minor as they endured harsh persecution for their faith. Jesus addresses the 7 churches directly with encouragement and areas of needed repentance. He addresses the church in Ephesus first and charges them with losing the love for Him and one another that they had at first. Jesus knows that without this love they will not endure.
Revelation 2:1-7 NLT
1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. 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.
4 “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.
6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7 “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.