当信徒为基督的名忍受苦难时，他们会是一股强大的力量。但我们也可能失去最初对主的爱。如果是这样，教会在世上就不再吸引人。我们不要忽视有些人的批评，说教会简直成了社交俱乐部。这些话可能会引起一些自我反省。
今天的经文讲述了使徒约翰从耶稣领受的异象中的一部分内容，耶稣让他将这些话写给以弗所教会。这间教会是保罗在大约50年前建立的。他们受过迫害， 没有屈服，他们也成熟到可以抵挡错误教导的地步。
但多年来，以弗所教会失去了起初对耶稣的爱。他们是从一个属灵的高度上滑下来的。他们需要回到起初对主的爱。所有命令都是从“要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的神”而来的。这引出了吓人一跳的重要命令：“要爱人如己。”（参可 12:28-34）。
如果我们批评穷人懒惰、不道德或上瘾——却不伸手援助——就可能是缺少怜悯的信号。要记得耶稣是怎样看见众人就怜悯他们的（可 6:34-44）。
主啊，拯救我们，使我们不至于失去起初被你的奇异恩典触动时对你的爱。愿你的爱在我们心里燃烧，使我们所有的关系都变得炽热。阿们。
启示录 2:1-7
1“你要写信给以弗所教会的使者说：‘那右手拿着七星、在七个金灯台中间行走的说：
2我知道你的行为、劳碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾试验那自称为使徒却不是使徒的，看出他们是假的来。
3你也能忍耐，曾为我的名劳苦，并不乏倦。
4‘然而，有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心离弃了。
5所以，应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去。
6然而，你还有一件可取的事，就是你恨恶尼哥拉一党人的行为，这也是我所恨恶的。
7圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，我必将神乐园中生命树的果子赐给他吃。’
“You have forsaken the love you had at first. . . . Repent and do the things you did at first.” — Revelation 2:4-5
When believers endure hardship for Christ’s name, they can be a powerful force to reckon with. But it’s possible to lose the fervor of the love we had for the Lord at first. If that happens, the church becomes almost unnoticeable in the world. Let’s not ignore criticism from people who may say the church is just a social club. That may call for some soul-searching.
Today’s Bible passage describes part of a vision the apostle John received from Jesus, who told him to write these words to the church in Ephesus. That church had been started by Paul some 50 years earlier. They had been persecuted and had not caved in, and they had matured enough to resist false teachings.
But over the years, the church at Ephesus had lost the initial fervor of its love for Jesus. That was the height from which they had fallen. They needed to return to the love they had had for the Lord at first. All other commands flow from “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” And this leads to the next great command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (See Mark 12:28-34.)
If we find ourselves criticizing the poor (in general) for laziness, immorality, or addictions—but doing nothing to help—that may be a sign that we are lacking compassion. Remember how Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion on them (Mark 6:34-44).
Save us, O Lord, from losing the love we had for you when we were struck by your amazing grace. Let your love so burn in our hearts that it warms all our relationships. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
