Gospel Reflections #528: God molding the Ephesian Church, God molding us

Revelation 2:2-4 “I know your deeds and your toil and your patience, and I know that you have no patience with the wicked --- and that you have seen through their lies. ---But I have something to say to you. You have departed from the love you had in the beginning."

These are the words of Jesus to the Ephesian church.

We know that the cross of Jesus has been a great help to us.

We have been given the grace to know God's unconditional love through Jesus' death on the cross, we have been given the grace to be born again through Jesus' resurrection, we are reminded and encouraged daily by the Holy Spirit, and we are immersed in God's love through His mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.

We experience that joy and peace.

However, as we live longer in faith, we sometimes judge people based on right and wrong, and we sometimes express a God of righteous deeds rather than a God of love.

The church in Ephesus was initially led to good works. God was pleased that the Ephesian church reflected the light of heaven by representing the Spirit of Christ, who is full of kindness and mercy. However, the Ephesian church neglected to keep Christ's mercy and gentleness dear.

To manifest the spirit of Christ is to have our character resemble His character.

It is not about enlarging the church or focusing on church service, but about accepting the work of the Holy Spirit and letting Him work in us.

Jesus also calls us close to rebuke. It is not a rebuke or condemnation, but an opportunity for us to reflect and examine ourselves.

Our message to the world is not how much we have grown, but how we have experienced the unchanging love of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is guiding and equipping us in all that we share!

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.