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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

EPHESUS

February 22, 2011

Seven letters to seven churches--Christ now speaks words to these seven churches in the Book of Revelation. But don't kid yourself; these words though 2000 years old are spoken to us all.

"You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent..."
                                               - Revelation 2:3-5 TNIV

The Ephesian church is one of the greats of the first century and is commended. But something non-negotiable is missing: Love. Passion is not just missing, it’s evaporated. We could rationalize that isn't it the way of all love, you fall into it, and then with time, it tempers. But Christ does not tolerate that rationalization. "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent..."

What are the things that nurture passion and love? Time together, conversation, caring for one another. So it is in courtship--those are the things that nurture passion. But life gets in the way, and we stop doing those things. So it is in the faith walk. Jesus says, repent. Stay in prayer. Stay in the Word. Tend to the things that nurture faith, and do it now. Let it not be said, "You have forsaken your first love..."

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson