In our Thursday morning Bible Class, we have recently started studying Revelation. I know that for many, the words of St. John's vision causes some consternation. This is caused by instruments of confusion like the Left Behind Series. Revelation is actually a very comforting book for those who belong to Christ. There are promises of God almost dripping from every page. If you are available, I would encourage you to come sit in on a few of our classes. We meet every Thursday morning at 9:30.

One of the first things you run across in Revelation are the letters to the seven churches. The very morning that I wrote this letter, we studied the Letter to the Angel of the church of Ephesus. There our Lord Jesus praises the church for all that they do. They work hard. They do wonderful things. They don't tolerate wicked men. They have much to rejoice over

The church at Ephesus had lost their first love. Some scholars feel that this love was a devotion and passion for the Lord Jesus Christ. They still did good deeds. They still did things in the way that they were to be done. But they lost their LOVE for Jesus.

Has the same thing happened to us at Zion? Have we lost our first love? Can you say that you still have a passion for Jesus Christ? There are times that I wonder.

Our pulpit is still a source of Law and Gospel. We still study the Bible and know that it shows us Jesus. We still operate a school that shares Jesus across the curriculum. But why? Why do we do this? Is it because we have always done it? Is it because we don't know any other way? Are we blindly following in the footsteps of our forefathers? What is it?

Or do we do the things we do here at Zion because of the Lord that we have received from our Lord? We preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the Love it has given us. We teach the children of our Day School because of the Love we have received from Jesus. We offer up our tithes and offerings because God offered up Jesus as the ultimate tithe and offering for our sake! This is LOVE. This is our FIRST LOVE!

If we are doing what we do for ANY other reason, we need to repent! Repent and turn from our meaningless ways. We need to ask God to rekindle in us our FIRST love. A love for Him.

There is only one way that this happens. It comes not through projects or budgets. It happens only through the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ! In the Bible and the Lord's Supper we actually put love in our mouths. And that rekindles in us th love that we share with one another!

There have been many happenings here at Zion over the past year that have upset and angered many. It has dampened our love for one another. But one love that has not dampened or dimished is the love that God has for us. It is here in God's house and at HIs altar that we will find the only way to rekindle the Love and trust and partnership that the Gospel forms in us. Our own efforts will not raise this up. Our staying away from God's house won't raise this up. Only the Lord working in and through us will make this happen. May God rekindle in us yet again that FIRST love that makes all that we do for HIm worth it! There is still time for this to happen. The time is now! This weekend and everyweekend! See you in the Lord's House and at His Table.