If you had to give a “grade”  to your relationship with Jesus, what criteria would you use to evaluate it? Would you focus on how often you’re reading the Bible or spending time in prayer? Would you “check the boxes” for church attendance and giving? Might you even give yourself “extra credit” for witnessing to others or volunteering for some kind of ministry?

Well, let’s be honest: There lots of things that seem pretty important when it comes to following Christ. But in today’s word from Revelation 2, we get a little reminder about the thing that matters most.

John is recording a message from Jesus to the church in Ephesus. And it sounds at first like that church is at the head of the class. “I know your deeds,” Jesus says, “your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you can’t 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.” (Rev. 2:2-3)

But then, Jesus mentions the one thing that drops their grade and puts them in danger of failing the class: “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” (Rev. 2:4)

You see, there are lots of things we can—and should—do for the Lord. And I think they matter a lot! And yet, we can do right on the outside and still fail to be right on the inside. And what defines that “rightness”? Well, Jesus put it like this: “You shall love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.” (Lk. 10:27)

So today, let’s do for Jesus the things that help us grow in him and serve others in his name. But even more, let’s love Jesus, because he’s good and gracious—compassionate and kind—and because he’s done everything that makes our relationship with him possible. Amen.