O Ephesus, Ephesus, Thou Hast Lost Thy WONDER

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; 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: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 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. Revelation 2:1 -5

The church at Ephesus had become known for its intolerance of evil and its swift campaigns against it. Ephesian christians stayed busy passing much "information" concerning the evil in just about everything around them. They were so doctrinally correct that no one could dispute them. They maintained a long hit list of the "false ministers" they had exposed. They were to be commended for their zeal for the house of God. They knew all the conspiracies, and could smell untruth a mile away.

However the scales of God revealed something that pronounced a serious consequence. They had been weighed in the balance and found lacking. They had lost their WONDER. They had fallen out of love with the Lord!

This exhortation from our Lord is not just narrowed to "one church" in Ephesus. Look around you and listen to "Christian conversation". Do you hear the loud protests against evil, against error, against ministers in error? Christian message communites on the internet are so full of this "vast information exchange" and righteous indignation over evil. Churches are full of it. The telephones are crammed with it. "Holy Gossip" rather than vital information. Everyone is plucking out the speck in "that other guy's eye," and tripping over the LOG in our own. Why? There is no longer a sense of WONDER toward our LORD. Eyes are CAST DOWN to earth from the great heights of His WONDER. He says LOOK UP and we are looking DOWN at all around us and groping in darkness.

Where are the exchanges of WONDER-filled words from WONDER-filled hearts. Where is our first love? God does not need our defense. He needs our love and if we do not grant Him that, what light we have will be removed. What is the opposite of light? Darkness. A door slammed to our cries of LORD LORD. And an indictment of "Go away I never KNEW you."

Not long ago the Lord said, "The branch of Criticism has died." I decree death to it this day on earth among God's people. In its place let the WONDER of His love grow. No more super spiritual giants pontificating on the evils around us. Fill your kingdom, O Lord, with WONDER-filled CHILDREN who simply ADORE YOU. We will trust YOU to sort the wheat and tares. We have an eternal fountain in You to enjoy.

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. JOY TO THE WORLD The LORD is come. Let earth receive her King! Let every heart Prepare Him room And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Amen.

Becky

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