These were real churches with real issues and Jesus responded to an actual condition particular to that congregation; sometimes commendatory, sometimes critical; but adapted perfectly to the particular situation He discovered in each.

But they were not random selections. Jesus specifically addressed these seven churches because each had a condition representative of the church as a whole in all ages and continue to exist in all churches today. Their problems are our problems. The Lord therefore still speaks with a message as relevant for our churches and for each of us today as it was to those in the first century.

Jesus concludes each letter with a warning to the individual: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." May we hear and heed what Christ, through the Spirit, says to us personally concerning these matters.

EPHESUS (2:1-7)

"Insincere"

Jesus applauds the works of the Ephesians. They labored hard to serve the church, persevered in their duties with patience, didn't tolerate evil members, rejected false teachers and doctrines, and they did it gladly for His name's sake without growing weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."

Our Lord's issue with Ephesus was clearly not the quantity or the quality of their works, for He emphasizes both a zeal and steadfastness. Instead, Jesus was identifying a departure from their earlier "first love". Though this is not explained, because love for God and love for one another are the two greatest commandments, allow me to speculate what might have been happening.