Rev. 2:2-52I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. 4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:2‑5). There is something remarkably searching to the hearts of believers in this word of the Lord's. Christ putting in pointed contrast two kinds of works, by saying, " I want the first works, not the works done when you have fallen from the first works. The Ephesians had left their first love-they had a range of works, they could suffer for Christ and could not bear evil; they labored without fainting, but all this could be done in a lower range. It is not to put the secondary class of works aside-there are many things we have to do and various kinds of service.. All are not gifted to minister in the word and doctrine: those who are may form a very small company in comparison with the number of Christians; but it is that first love which puts the soul above secondary works. One cannot go forth in the power of that love and see " a lion in the way," no, for one sees Christ beyond. The humblest believer can say, " I know that Christ has His heart occupied with me individually, and the knowledge of this centralizes my heart's affections on Him, and gives me power to carry out service, all being done from the principle of love to Him who first loved me."
Ah! what does Christ look for but the love of His people individually? Everything may be in a state of chaos, but He says, " If the freshness of your love is lost, mine remains the same." If your soul gets hold of the sweetness of His love, it will shine out, making you very bright-not outside service, but something between our souls and the Only-begotten Son of the Father. Any who have tested His love, can say, " I know the sweetness of that love." Ah, if you do, do not let it slip away. Christ says to the Ephesians, " You are giving me the second place in your hearts, you are thinking a great deal about my house and candlestick, but what of me?" Repent therefore, and do the first works.