This month we focus on the first few chapters of Revelation. John has been exiled to the island of Patmos, as punishment for his devotion to Christ. Patmos was NOT a nice place to visit - and much less a sought-after place to stay. But God blessed John’s desire to worship by granting John visions and instructing him to write letters to the congregations located in seven cities. These letters were apparently NOT meant to be circulated individually, but rather as part of the greater record of John’s experiences, with which God intended (we believe) to encourage Christians in all of the churches of John’s time and ours.

Each week we’ll take an imaginary tour of one or two cities, identifying the aspects listed below:

Destination: NAME OF CITY

Team Leader: GOD’S SELF-DESCRIPTION

Attractions: WHAT PLEASES GOD

Detractions: WHAT DISPLEASES GOD

Action Plan: WHAT GOD IS SEEKING

Prospects: WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

Souvenirs: WHAT YOU FIND MEMORABLE

Christ walks among the lampstands (or the menorah of seven branches), which represent the congregations, with the seven stars (guardian angels or possibly the earthly pastors of the churches) in hand. He commends the Ephesian church for its discernment but exhorts the church to return to its “first love.” Christ warns that the church will be unable to show forth a true Christ-light without that love.

We discussed the idea of “first love,” acknowledging that such love is often mixed with infatuation (which is NOT to be trusted). But we noted that love in its early stages is often characterized by a keen awareness of the excellent traits of the beloved, a desire to be near the beloved, and a selflessness that “magnifies” the desires of the beloved over our own. We delight in delighting our beloved.