The message to the church of Ephesus - "Loss of first love"

Revelation 2:1-8

Letter From

While clearly the messages to the churches all came from God, what is this about? Seven stars and seven candlesticks?

Revelation 1:12-13

12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

From this we realise that the message is from the Son of man, that is Jesus Christ. He uses this phase of himself in the gospels, and it is used some 85 times in the New Testament to refer to Christ.

The Problem

Revelation 2:4

4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

The problem was, and is a loss of first love. All Christians face this. Somewhat like how couples start out in a blaze of love, that after a year or two becomes a relationship that needs work. In both cases we need to return to that first love. The enthusiasm and dedication of that time. Do you love God with all your heart, mind and strength? This is not about what you practically do as "works". The Ephesians were great at "works". This is about your heart. Out of your heart actions will follow, but without the heart actions become "works".

As with all the letters, the problem is met by the realisation of who the letter is from. In this case, the problem was a loss of the first love following salvation. The solution, to look once more to Jesus, the Son of man, the author and finisher of our salvation.