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.
