Tower and Town, August 2026 (view the full edition)Clergy Letter: Return To Your First LoveAt Emmanuel we’ve loved discovering the letters to the seven churches of Revelation. What a revelation of Jesus Christ for real people in the real world! The first letter was to the ancient church in Ephesus - a thriving city of wealth, power and idol worship - but its message also speaks to Christians today. Why not read it in Revelation 2:1-7? It starts with Jesus. Before he says anything about the church, he reminds them who he is: the glorious risen Lord who holds his messengers in his hand and walks among his churches as among lampstands. Christ is not distant from his people; he is present with them, sustaining, protecting and shining through them. The Christian life begins not with what we do for Jesus, but with what Jesus has done for us. Then comes a beautiful encouragement: "I know you". Jesus knows their hard work, perseverance and costly faithfulness. He knows how they have resisted false teaching and remained steadfast under pressure. Nothing done for Christ escapes his notice. He sees the hidden service, quiet obedience, unseen prayers and patient endurance through suffering. How much more his smile is worth than all the applause of the world! Yet Jesus also speaks a searching word: "You have forsaken the love you had at first". Outwardly the church was busy and orthodox; inwardly its love for Christ had cooled. It is possible to defend the truth and serve faithfully, yet gradually lose the joy of simply loving Jesus. Our experience of prayer becomes duty; of scripture becomes familiar; and of service ceases to be worship. But Christ's rebuke is also an invitation: "Remember... repent... and do the things you did at first". We cannot manufacture greater love, but let us return to the One who first loved us and gave himself for us. As we abide in him, he rekindles our hearts by his Spirit. The One who walks among the lampstands still calls his church today: come back to your first love, and remain with Jesus until he welcomes you to the heavenly tree of life. Reuben Mann |