FIRST LOVE- For Message on 12/22/2024

On this last day of advent we light the most important candle of all, the candle of love. In
a world of anger and revenge, hatred and atrocity (Matt 24:21-22) another message needed to be heard of the importance of your first love (Rev 2:4).
John writes to the church at Ephesus, people Paul deeply loved and the feelings were
mutual (Acts 20:31-35, 36-37).
But apparently, this church had lost something, in spite of its faithfulness and endurance
(Rev 2:1-3)…again, its first love (Rev 2:4). This passage needs to be connected to another
important assertion that God is love (1 Jn 4:16)…All love, especially the first love is God’s love.
But what goes wrong when we lose our first love? We need to rethink, change and go
back toward the best of our past (Rev 2:5a) or possibly lose the presence and passion of Jesus
(Rev 2:5b)
considerate and passionate…where a candlestick is burning. Remove the candlestick
from any business, any residence, any home…even if it is run efficiently, it will be a hellish place
to work.