On today’s Footsteps, Anne Graham Lotz shares with us the warning given to the church at Ephesus.  The Lord declares, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4, NKJV).  Next, we read the consequences of no longer loving the Lord completely: “I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5, NKJV).  So, what is meant by “remove your lampstand?”  According to a note in the Ryrie Study Bible, God will “remove the usefulness of that local church.”(1)  And, when we turn to a note in the MacArthur Study Bible, we see the historical perspective: “God’s judgement would bring an end to the Ephesian church.”(2)  Now, let’s make this warning personal.  Do you want to lose your usefulness or even your existence in ministry?  Assuming that you want to stay effective, now might be a good time to evaluate your love of Jesus.  Could it be that you need to repent in this area?

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(Photo of Andy Napier and Anne Graham Lotz)

1. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, The Ryrie Study Bible, ESV Version (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2011), 1551.

2. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006), 1964.