| Day 727: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. Fan the Flames"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God."
(Revelation 2:1-7) ReflectJust as when a man and woman fall in love, so also new believers rejoice at their newfound forgiveness. But the ardor of love later cools. When they lose sight of the seriousness of sin, they begin to lose the thrill of forgiveness (see 2 Peter 1:9). Here, Jesus confronts the believers in Ephesus about their lost love. Paul had once commended the church at Ephesus for its love for God and others (Ephesians 1:15), but many of the church founders had died, and many of the second-generation believers had lost their zeal for God. They were a busy church—the members did much to benefit themselves and the community—but they were acting out of the wrong motives. They needed to fan the flames of love once more. RespondIn the first steps of your Christian life, you may have had enthusiasm without knowledge. Do you now have knowledge without enthusiasm? Both are necessary if we are to keep love for God intense and untarnished (see Hebrews 10:32, 35). Are you in need of a "second honeymoon" with God? Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle your love for God. | 
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