The Assimilated Church

The readings this week will get us into the book of Revelation’s apocalyptic imagery. This imagery speaks to God’s wrath and the seriousness of God’s intent to punish evil and restore the world. This stark and startling picture of God’s hatred of sin serves as a warning to the “assimilated church” to take sin seriously and flee from it

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Revelation 2:1-7

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You will find the Sermon Notes for today’s message here.

REFLECTION

First Loves Rekindled
by Elaine Pierce

Do you remember your first crush? How you could think about nothing else but this new love in your life? How all you wanted to do was spend time with him?  How you hung on his every word, and wanted only to please him? How his eyes lit up when you walked into the room?

Of course you do! You also know why the phrase ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ is true, as that intense first love flame doesn’t burn as brightly as the days and the years go by. As you find yourself irritated with how he doesn’t squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom, or how he tells the same story over and over, or how he doesn’t seem to listen to what you have to say. [Note: in all seriousness, these are just random examples, and I may think them about my wonderful spouse, I recognize how very blessed I am to be married to a guy I still love a lot, despite MY MANY flaws and imperfections!]

John encourages the church at Ephesus as he points out their deeds, their hard work and their perseverance. He points out that they hate the Nicolaitans (an off-shoot sect who had a warped view of sex and favored eating meat sacrificed to idols, among other heresies) just as he does. But then he says this:

“Yes, I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love...If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (v.4-5). “

Their love for Jesus had gone stale. They no longer had that passion they had when they first became believers. John longs for them to regain that first love. And today, we, too, must ask the Lord to give us a heart that longs for him.

I took a walk today in Walhalla Ravine, which is right outside my door. I happened on a fawn frolicking in the creek, staying close to his mother, but clearly delighting in jumping through the water (I wanted to join him – it’s hot today.)  I was reminded of Psalm 42:1-2

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Lord, help me to rekindle my first love for you. I have followed you, faithfully and not so faithfully, for many years, and right now, I’m weary. I’m tired of this pandemic, and I’m afraid for the future. Yet, fear and anger will only drive a wedge between you and me. Help me now to return to my first love, and to remember every day that this is the day that YOU have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SUNDAY

SCRIPTURES - Pray the Scriptures. Some examples are Psalm 91:1-15 / Psalm 121:5-8 / John 14:27 / Philippians 4:6-7 / 2 Timothy 1:7