Revelation 2 First Love

Today on Mission 66, our teacher John Mathews takes us through Revelation 2, where we learn the importance of maintaining our “first love” for Jesus. The chapter contains letters to four different churches in Asia Minor, each with its own set of challenges and commendations. Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for their hard work and perseverance but points out they have abandoned their initial passionate love for him. Smyrna is commended for its faithfulness amid poverty and persecution, while Pergamum is called out for tolerating false teachings. Thyatira is recognized for its works and love but reprimanded for tolerating a false prophetess. The key takeaway is that our actions and endurance must be fueled by a deep, abiding love for Jesus, who is our primary reason for living faithfully. These letters remind us to self-reflect and realign our hearts to Jesus, ensuring we’re serving him out of love rather than obligation or habit.