The Book of Revelation prepared early Christians for the dangers brought on by cruel Roman emperors like Nero and Domitian. They terrorized Christians. Believers would have to make a choice. Would they publicly worship Caesar as a god, and escape alive with their families? Or would they confess Jesus as Lord, leading to property loss, torture and even death? Only the greatest kind of love would make the right choice. Jesus recognized that the Ephesians had slipped from that kind of love. They were not ready for “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). Unprepared believers would deny Jesus, forcing Him to deny them. In the words of an earlier message to Ephesus:
…if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:12-13).
Thus Jesus urged His family in Ephesus to repent, to fan the flames of love. He reminded them of the fiery fervor they had at first, in the days of Apollos and Paul, when they spread God’s word to their whole region (Acts 19:10,20). In those early days also, Ephesian Christians had faced severe opposition.26 Coming to Christ had involved the conscious choice to lose everything for Him. They recognized Him as more precious than their jobs, their families and their lives. The Lord was truly their first love! In later years, however, their resolve had relaxed. Their passion had cooled. They had changed, but Jesus had not. He still deserved the first and highest place in their hearts. He still demanded – and still today demands of us! – complete devotion, even the sacrifice of life itself.27
Do not fear what you are about to suffer.… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). M
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:25). M
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:37-39).
CHRIST IN YOU MAKES LOVE YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY!
26. Acts 19:23-40; 1 Corinthians 15:31-32; 16:8-9
27. Early Christians were persecuted, some even “to their death” Acts 22:4 e.g. Acts 7:54-60; 12:2; 14:19; 2 Timothy 4:6; Revelation 2:13; John 21:18-19 with 2 Peter 1:14. Historical records tell that Ephesus became a center for the systematic persecution of Christians. Many were killed there, including John’s helper, Polycarp. Thousands in those early centuries made Jesus their first love, and paid with their lives! Does Jesus require the same of us today? Yes, certainly the commitment to give all. Speaking of persecutors that “kill the body,” Jesus set willingness to lose life as a basic condition for becoming His disciple, Matthew 10:37-39; Revelation 2:10 cf. Luke 14:26; John 12:24-25; Revelation 12:11. By His word and by His example, Jesus trains us to release our grip on “life in this world.” The courage to die for Christ does not spring up accidentally in a crisis. It arises from Christ’s Spirit within, who trains us in many selfless decisions along the way. It grows through challenges that purify faith and love, Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4. Paul died a martyr’s death, but that was after he practiced daily dying, Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Colossians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 cf. Luke 9:23. In the context of Revelation, Jesus fully expected His followers to go to prison and to execution. He expects no less commitment from His family today. Love’s definition has not changed in God’s Book. Real devotion has not become less deep. Our Father is not so fickle as to switch standards. He is not so unfair as to settle for incomplete dedication from us, while He required complete dedication from early Christians. Our suffering may not take exactly the same shape as theirs. Circumstances change from time to time and from person to person. John gave himself as fully as Peter and Paul, yet God used a long life as the altar for John’s living sacrifice, John 21:17-24; 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1 cf. Romans 12:1-2. God spared Peter but let James fall to the sword, Acts 12:1-11. No one knows the exact altar on which his or her sacrifice will be completed. But one thing remains constant: we must be prepared to pay the ultimate price. We must love Jesus more than life itself!
Research Subjects
- Agape love
- Peace among brothers
- Forgive
- Hospitality
- God’s concern for justice
- God’s concern for the poor
- Good works
Love is the most important lesson that God wants to teach us. He places us with others in His family because that is the best way to practice love. As we learn how to live and work together, we grow in humility and kindness. We serve others, following Christ’s example of humbly washing His disciples’ feet. We give generously of our time, money and possessions. However, we are careful not to let anything, even loving other people, to take the place of loving God. He should have the foremost place in our hearts. We must be willing to give up everything for Christ, even accepting death rather than denying Christ.
Memory Verses
- 1 Corinthians 10:24 – Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…
- 1 John 4:8 – Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Ephesians 4:2-3 – … with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- 1 Peter 2:23 – When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
- Matthew 20:25-28 – “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them…. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…”
- 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 – Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
- Revelation 2:10 – Do not fear what you are about to suffer.… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- John 12:25 – Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Teach me, O Lord, to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Train me to love my neighbors, putting their needs above my own. Fortify my resolve to give up my very life, whether in living service or in the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom. My feeble strength is not enough. So I ask for Your strength to fill me, and make me far more than I am by myself…
Picture: The Ephesus Museum displays the remains of a statue of Domitian, emperor of Rome and persecutor of Christians about the time John wrote Revelation.