Deeper Reflection
“PATIENT ENDURANCE” (VV.2, 3) WAS A KEY THEME repeated in the Lord’s messages to the seven churches (see also 1:9; 2:19; 3:10). It means steadfastness or perseverance. The Lord’s disciples need this quality, because they will be tested in the trials and tribulations that will come (vv.9-10a). Jesus promised a great reward to those who remain faithful even unto death (vv.10b-11). Brothers and sisters, how are you responding to evil doers and false teachers (v.2), and bearing up under persecution and suffering for your faith (vv.9-10)?Although the Lord commended the church in Ephesus for their patient endurance, he pointed out, “You have abandoned the love you had at first” (v.4). It was not that the Ephesian Christians abandoned or forsook the Lord Jesus. For if they did, they would not have patiently endured severe challenges for His sake (v.3). Rather, the problem was that the Christians lost the extent of love and fervour that they had for Jesus when they first believed in Him and began to follow Him. They probably also lost much of their love and affection for one another in the church.³⁵ In other words, the Christians fell from their initial heights of love for Jesus and one another (v.5). What about the church in Singapore? Brothers and sisters, if you recognise that this has happened in your devotional life, worship, small group communities, ministry and outreach, the Lord calls you today to repent of a love grown cold and to return to the love once fervent! Recall your early love for Jesus and one another, and do again the works that flowed from that!

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³⁵ Cf. Mark 12:29-31; 1 John 4:20.