Contemplative Bible Reading

Revelation 2:5 (New Living Translation)

…Turn back to me and do the works you did at first…

This is part of the revelation given to the church at Ephesus. It appears that this church had grown complacent in its heart and actions. They are encouraged to turn back to how they lived at first.

Fatigue wins in this world. When tired, I don’t think as well. My mind isn’t as quick. My body isn’t as nimble or strong. I just want to take a nap before going to bed at night.

God provides us an escape from this world and the ball-and-chain of fatigue. No, feeling tired doesn’t go away; it is still here. What does go away is the feeling that, “Well, that’s just the way it is and there is nothing that can be done about it and we all just might as well do what we might as well do and take another nap and sit on the couch and …”

God provides us an escape from this world. Physics wins. God invented it that way. There is, however, a difference.

What is different is that God provides us a Spirit that changes us. Sure fatigue is here, and so is God’s Spirit, and so is the promise and hope that I can still do the works I did at first. Complacent, lie on the couch…those things don’t have to win. No matter my age, no matter my health, no matter my circumstance, I can still smile, I can still say an encouraging and uplifting word, I can still pray, I can still bless another, I can still…well, I hope we all get the picture and turn back to the works at first.

Thank you God. Please help me to live according to Your promises.