The Church that hurts

It is amazing when churches lose perspective. When I say "church", I really mean the people. After all, church would not exist without people. It has been said that, "Church would be perfect if it did not have people in it."

God has created a community of believers to exist in a local setting to carryout his mission, purpose and plan. But one of the first things we need to be reminded of is "love". Not just any kind of love, but the love that comes from someone who is far greater than anyone on this earth. A love that extends beyond human reasoning, beyond any love we can see today demonstrated. Even when people don't deserve it, God's love extends to them as the sun's rays extend to our faces.

The church that hurts is the one that has lost it's love. John talks about the church of Ephesus. In it he writes (from the words of Jesus) from Rev. 2:3-4:

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

This sounds like a great church. A church that has undergone great trials and works so hard in the name of Christ. It is not tired, but strong. It sounds like a church you and I should be a part of. It sounds like a church that would welcome visitors, people who do not know Christ, but are searching for him. But watch this next verse. Verse 4.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Vers 5 tells us what we (the church aka people) should do:

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

This morning, I repent. I have lost my first love. I have lost HIS LOVE. I must labor now, I must lead now, I must go now. Church...will you join me?