Ephesus was one of the better known early churches. Located in a port city that was home to the pagan temple of Artemis, it’s no wonder that philosophical debates broke out here with the Apostle Paul, and attracted some great thinkers among early Christians like Apollos, John the Apostle. 

And yet in Jesus’ letter to Ephesus in Revelation 2, he offers a firm rebuke. He says in verse 4, “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Now those are some pretty strong words. Ephesus latched onto Christ in the beginning and they did so in love. It was the love of God that compelled them to follow Christ. 

Yet along the way, they grew in knowledge, which was good. But what wasn’t good was that their love started taking a backseat. I don’t know where you are in how you see God, but if it’s his truth that comes to mind before his love, you may want to re-examine your own heart. 

It’s always God’s love that outlasts. Our thinking gets corrected along the way. Is that not your testimony? You didn’t have it figured out when Jesus saved you. Love before truth.