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December 28th

The bible reading today is Revelation chapters 1-5.

The word Revelation comes from a Greek word meaning apocalypse. That makes sense because The Revelation is a book of disclosure and unveiling of events in the future.

Tradition says that Roman authorities took elderly John into custody...tried him...found him guilty and put him into a pot of boiling oil to execute him.

But God intervened and miraculously saved him, like he did with the three Hebrew children who were thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebechadnezer for their refusal to deny their Lord.

So the Roman authorities exiled John to the Isle of Patmos. It was there that John received visions from God around 95 AD. John wrote them down and sent them to seven churches in Asia...beginning with the church in Ephesus where he served the last years before Patmos.

Spirit inspired John begins The Revelation with prophetic words to the pastors of the seven churches. “

“To the Pastor and the church in Ephesus write:...I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance"...In other words...You are Heroes to your children...your courageous lives during suffering...commendable indeed.

"And...I know...how you cannot bear with those who are evil, those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”

I know how you seek to protect your church family from false doctrine...not tolerating evil in the church to go unchecked...Yes, you have a testimony of being bold and brave...

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭

But hear this...“I have this against you”,

Can you imagine hearing those words from your loving Lord?...Complimented by Him in the beginning of the conversation...only to hear him use the scary “But...I have this against you”...

Oh, what is he fixing to say? "You...You have abandoned the love you had at first.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:4‬

Wow....is that what love incarnate says to his promised ones?

Yes...true love tells the truth no matter how much it may hurt...especially for the sake of his kids.

Those friends of Jesus had their good days...exemplary days in Ephesus...to be sure.

But they were still human and susceptible to temptations and sinning, even to the point of slowly but surely drifting away from their first devotions to their Lord.

They were saved by grace and they would be restored by the same.

God reminds us...and draws us back to Himself...and I am so glad!

Have a good day!