Join us in today’s devotion and prayer-
Read Revelation 2:1-7 in your favorite version or in the following KJV and then join us in praying below:
2 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Our Father:
We thank you for the counsel that you have given us through your words of blessing and correction to the seven churches in Revelation. We see in them examples of our own churches, where we are fulfilling your word and where we need to make changes.
Let us continue like those in Ephesus to be faithful to your teaching; and continue to labor in spreading the Gospel to a culture that is not all that excepting. But let us avoid the ‘Super Grace’ teaching of the Nicolaitans that once your are saved you no longer need to repent or follow your word. Let us continue to follow your Holy Spirit instead; that counsels us daily to change our lives and conform our very thoughts and behavior to the example of your son Jesus.
Father, may we also be super charged by your Spirit to seek a closer relationship with you daily; like we did in the beginning when we were first saved. May we recover that ‘first love’ and excitement. May our lives continue to be blessed by an ever increasing and continuing relationship with you in all that we do.
We seek to be among the ‘overcomers’ which will eat of the tree of life in your midst forever.
We pray this in the name of your son Jesus,
Amen.