Mandy Hackland's Blog

Jesus ended His letter to the Ephesians and the church at Ephesus:

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7

Today you are invited to consider whether you think you are victorious in your walk of faith with Jesus or whether you are afraid you may be failing. What are you struggling with at this time? What is Jesus saying to you through these words today? Tell Him how you feel and ask for His help where you need it. May you hear what the Spirit says to the churches and may you be blessed with the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

May God bless you and guide you today.

Jesus continued the letter to Ephesus:

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Revelation 2:6

Today you are invited to consider how you use the word ‘hate’. What do you hate? Why do you hate? Would Jesus agree with you, or do you think He may disapprove – especially if the object of your hate is a person, rather than a practice? (It is not known what the Nicolaitans actually did that Jesus hated.) Tell Jesus about the things you hate. What does He say to you about it/them? How can He help you with hatred you sense He is telling you He doesn’t like? Ask Him to show you. What action will you take?

May God bless you as you consider these things.

The letter to Ephesus continues with some stern words:

Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Revelation 2:5

Today you are invited to listen to these words both on a personal basis and on behalf of your church. We know we are all sinners. How do these words apply to you? How do they apply to your church? What changes do you need to make? What do you need to say to Jesus in these regards? How can you do the things you did at first to rectify the situation? What is God saying to you today?

May God bless you as you repent and turn to Him in new ways today.

The letter to Ephesus continues:

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Revelation 2:4

Today you are invited to consider your first love for Jesus and your love today. Does it burn as brightly? Has it faded? Does it burn more fiercely? What does Jesus mean to you today? Spend some time telling Him how much you love Him and who He is for you. Listen for His response. These words in this verse may not be for you today – or they may. How has this time made you feel? What, if any, changes do you need to make in regard to your relationship with Jesus?

May God bless you as you love Him today.

The letter to Ephesus continues:

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name and have not grown weary. Revelation 2:2-3

Today you are invited to consider what Jesus would say about your hard work, your perseverance, your endurance on His behalf. What do you do for Him? How do you work for Him? What challenges you in this regard, and yet you still continue to do the work because He has called you to do so? Listen for His voice? What does He say to you today?

May God bless you with His love today as you spend time with Him and work for Him.

Jesus’ letter to Ephesus

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the event stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. Revelation 2:1

Today you are invited to consider what it would mean to you to have a letter from Jesus specifically addressed to your church. What problems would Jesus write about? What good points would He identify? What blessings does your church need for the ministry of God’s work to be carried out fully? Speak to Jesus about your church today. Ask Him to show you how you can help your church to fulfil its calling to spread the Gospel at this time. What does He say to you?

May God bless you as you follow His instructions today.

Jesus tells John:

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20

The seven churches are located in present-day Turkey. It is believed the stars represent the leaders of those churches. Today you are invited to consider whoever is the leader of your church? How often do you pray for them? Spend some time praying for anyone in leadership roles in your church today – both your home church and the Church universal.

May God bless you as you pray for His Church today.

Once again, Jesus tells John what to do:

Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. Revelation 1:19

Today you are invited to find a copy of the first chapter of Revelation and read it through. What has John seen so far? How do you imagine Jesus? Does this picture of Him help you? Does it matter to you what He looks like? Why/why not? How would you describe Him to someone who asked you what He looked like? What is the most important feature of Jesus for you? Why?

May God bless you with a clear understanding of who Jesus is, whether you can picture Him or not.

John was so in awe of what he was seeing as he described Jesus, he fell in worship at His feet. Jesus touched him with His right hand and said:

Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

Do not be afraid. Today you are invited to consider Jesus saying this to you as the Living Lord. What difference will that make to you in regard to what life is like for you at the moment? How will you respond to Him? Look at the description Jesus gives of Himself. How does this picture of Him help you to trust Him in all things? Tell Him how you feel and describe any struggles you may be having at the moment.

May the Living One bless you with His peace today.

And so we have come to the end of Luke’s accounts of the words Jesus spoke directly to His disciples. We will now look at those He spoke to John as He dictated letters to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation. How do they relate to us today? Jesus said to John:

Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Revelation 1:11

Today you are invited to consider how you respond when God gives you a strange instruction. Do you believe it is God speaking or do you question Him? How do you decide? And when you have decided, what do you do? Do you write letters, make phone calls, visit people, at His command? Why/why not? How do you feel once you have made your decision to act or not? What would have been the consequences if John had not done what Jesus said? What are the consequences if you decide not to follow that inner voice?

May God bless you with wisdom and discernment as He speaks to you today.