Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)
To the Church in Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who
call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But
I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and
remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Jesus encourages
the Ephesian believers to avoid false teachers, return to their first love, and be zealous for good works. Such admonitions continue to apply today, even as moral relativism and watered-down doctrine abound. Yet Jesus helps us overcome all these things. Not
even death and hell could defeat Him!
I pray: “Praise, Lord, for Your apostles … May we with zeal as earnest The faith of Christ maintain, Be bound in love
together, And life eternal gain.” Amen. (LSB 518:28)
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 2202.