by: John Park, December 8th, 2010
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love that you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” – Rev. 2:4-5
For the longest time, I thought that these two verses meant: “Repent and love God… and then he won’t come and remove your lampstand (whatever that meant).” However, for the first time today, I noticed that Jesus says, “Repent and do the works you did at first” which seems to imply that an action, rather than affections is involved here.
When I looked up G.K. Beale’s commentary on the book of Revelations, he writes this and gives us a hint as to which action in particular is being discussed here:
The idea is that they no longer expressed their former zealous love for Jesus by witnessing to him in the world. This is why Christ chooses to introduce himself as he does in Rev. 2:1. His statement that he “walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” is intended to remind the introverted readers that their primary role in relation to the Lord should be that of a light of witness to the outside world.
I tend to agree with Beale’s conclusion (over and against those who would say that the Apostle was simply talking about love for the Lord or those only within the Church). Though those are involved, too, I think primarily, what the Apostle is speaking about here is the Ephesians’ loss of fervor in being the light of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In this light, this warning that Jesus gives to the Ephesians is one that hits close to home for me personally (and I would assume many other Christians, as well). He says that if we do not repent and “do the works” we did at first, He will come and remove our lampstands.
Prayer:
Father, I am one of those “introverted” Christians who know the truth of the Gospel, but, because of fear of man, am unwilling to be that light to this dark world. Forgive me for putting my hope and my trust in what others think of me rather than what you think of me in Christ.
I plead the blood of Christ, receive his forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and clothe myself with His righteousness. God, I deserve to have my lampstand removed and thereby, incur your righteous wrath. But, I thank you that in Christ, I have an advocate, the propitiation for my sins (1 John 2:1).
Help me now to boldly be that light that you have called us to be in this dark world. Give me courage upon courage to tell others of the greatest news in the world. Empower my words, Holy Spirit, for without your power behind those words, they are merely words.
In Jesus’ powerful name I pray,
Amen.
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by: John Park, November 26th, 2010
Two equally dangerous pitfalls to avoid:
1. Affection-less Christianity: Christianity that is devoid of any warm affections/emotions of love, joy, peace toward God and His people. This Affection-less Christianity leads to cold, dead, legalistic religion.
2. Search of Un-mediated Affections: This search is characterized by people searching for experiences of affections/emotions of love, joy, peace apart from God’s appointed means (e.g. the Word, sacraments, the proclamation of the Gospel, etc.).
Prayer:
Lord, grant me, by Your Spirit, soul/love/joy-stirring affections for You and your people as I mediate on the blood-bought promises given to me in Your Word.
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by: John Park, November 19th, 2010
This morning, I was wrecked by two stories of those who are being persecuted for their trust in Christ Jesus as the hope of the world.
First, is the story of Sayed Mossa, an Afghani who was put into a prison in Afghanistan for converting to Christianity from Islam. World Magazine reports that this husband and father of six (one of whom is mentally disabled) is being tortured, beaten, sexually molested, and is scheduled to be executed for his faith in Jesus Christ. You can read the letter Mossa smuggled out of prison, begging the international Church to help him in this time of persecution. Pastor J.D. Greear, on his blog, has put action steps (beginning with prayer) on how we can do just that. I pray that you will take the time to pray for Brother Mossa, as well as write to the White House, asking President Obama to put pressure on Afghani President Karzai to release him.
Secondly, there’s the story of this young, North Korean student who recently gave a nine-minute testimony at the Lausanne Conference that was held a few weeks back. In this testimony, she tells the incredible story of her father, who after escaping to China, went back to North Korean not once, but twice (at the risk of torture and death) in order to share the love of God with his people. The first time he went, he was put in prison for three years. The second time he went back, he didn’t return and was most likely, executed in public for treason.
It seems ironic that those who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ is thriving in pain and persecution while we, who are not, are dying in our pleasure.
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by: John Park, September 10th, 2010
“Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.” – Heb 2:9
More and more, God has been gracious in revealing to me just how self-reliant I really am. Whenever a conflict in my life arises, my first reaction, rather than trusting that God is in control of the situation (Heb 2:9, Prov. 3:5-6, Prov. 19:21, Rom. 8:28, etc), is to think, “Alright, now, how am I going to fix this problem?”
I think it’s safe to say that the root cause behind this – namely, trusting in myself to fix the problems in my life – is because I simply do not trust God as much as I should. And this, in turn, stems from the fact that I don’t know God as much as I should.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I ask that you would continue to reveal more of who you are and what you are like as I pour over your Word. More than simply as a list of things to do (and not do), open my eyes so that I might see every page of your Word as a revelation of who you are so that, through your Son, I might learn to, on a daily basis, trust you.
My prayer is that you will make make me into the man that you describe in Psalm 112:6-7 (”For the righteous will never be moved… his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid…”) for your glory and my joy. It’s only by your Son’s precious name that I make this request. Amen.
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by: John Park, September 9th, 2010
“For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-12)
What God has been exposing about the wickedness of my heart through this verse:
- I am not content with the “slow” pace with which God is sanctifying me and so therefore, I constantly try to take matters into my own hands and think that, by my will-power, I will (as if I even could) fix the areas in my life that I feel need fixing.
What God has been teaching me through this verse:
- To constantly focus on the breadth of Christ’s accomplishment on the cross for me and trust that His Spirit (whom God has given me through my union with Christ) will slowly (but surely) conform my life to the pattern of Jesus Christ.
My recurring prayer as of late (an adaptation of 1 Peter 4:10-11):
- God, supply me with the strength that only you can supply in order that in everything you may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
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