Performance Review #1: Forsaken Love
Happy New Year! A brand new year is a time to reflect on your lives and make corrections. Suppose God held a performance review with you. How would you do? Let’s see how 7 churches did in their performance review.
Passage: Revelation 2:1-7
Verse: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” Revelation 2:4
Evaluation of: The church in Ephesus [theme is forsaken love]
Evaluator:
- He [Jesus]
- Who holds the 7 stars [the human leaders of these churches]
- And walks among the 7 candlesticks [the 7 churches – represent all churches]
Strengths: They …
- Accomplish tasks
- Work hard
- Demonstrate perseverance
- Do not tolerate continual sin
- Test those who claim to be apostles – and some have proven false
- Endure hardships
- Have not grown weary
- Hate those who encourage sinful behavior – just as I do
Weakness: They …
- Were commended in the last performance review for your love (Ephesians 1:15-16)
- Now you have forsaken [intentionally] your first love of Me
Correction:
- Remember how you first loved the Lord
- Repent [change your attitude and head in the opposite direction]
- Do the things you did at first
Warning:
Unless you repent and change your behavior, I will come and remove your lampstand [your usefulness] from its place
Incentive:
If you overcome, I will give you the right to eat from the tree of life in God’s Paradise [eternal reward in heaven]
Application:
- Are you still in love with Christ? I mean really in love with Him? If so, rejoice! There’s nothing so sweet as the joy and excitement in your heart when you love the Lord. If your heart is lukewarm, or become cold, take 3 action steps:
- Remember how you felt when you first loved Him.
- Repent by changing your attitude. Move toward Him instead of away from Him.
- Do what you did at first – spend time with Him, talk to Him, sing to Him and worship Him.
Prayer:
“Lord, You know my heart. Keep the love that’s there burning brightly, and rekindle the flame if it’s in danger of flickering out. Amen.”
© 2014 Steven A. Lake
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
