insights about the seven churches

[good samaritan]

"Revelation 2:1 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 Nicolaitans, 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."

I have always thought that the Ephesians leaving their first love meant they lost their love for Christ. Although, I am sure that is true, I wonder why they are so faithful in serving Him. Jesus compliments the Ephesians for their labours and there intolerance toward the unrighteous. Could it be that they became legalistic in their motivations and lost the source to their righteousness.

I have noticed that some Christians lose that sweet spirit that they began with. Their righteousness becomes a badge of honor instead of a love relationship with God. Priding themselves for their strictness and looking down at others for their lack of godliness.

Jesus compliments them for strictness, but condemns them for their loss of their first love. The greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neigbor as ourself. Being ultra conservative is not a bad thing, but we must never lose the source of our motivation. It must be for a love of God and a love for others. That should be what motivates us to righteousness.

The first love the Ephesians lost could be their love motivation altogether. They began with it but they lost it somewhere on the journey. They where commanded to go back and do their firstworks. Repentence "brokeness, humility, etc...." Repentence is for the heart to become tender. Just some thoughts...