Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Revelation 2:1
Most Sunday mornings, I take a moment during the Breaking of Bread to look around and count the number of Christians who are participating. Depending on who is away, who is sick, etc., the numbers can be up or down, compared to previous weeks. But even more important than the number present is the actual people who are present. It is good to be aware when some are not there so we can keep them in mind for prayer, or visiting, and so on. This is because every member of the Assembly is precious, and every visitor from another Assembly is refreshing. We appreciate each one. But ewe should never forget to count One Who attends every meeting of the Assembly, and takes a greater interest than anyone else in Assembly matters, and Who knows more about the Assembly and its members than the most diligent elder or the most active gossip. He walks among us.
In the previous chapter, we would discover that the golden candlesticks, or lampstands, are the Assemblies, specifically the seven Assemblies in Asia to whom John was to send the messages. Whether those Assemblies were aware or not, the Lord Jesus was among them. The messages that He was directing John to send to them made it obvious that He was aware of the spiritual conditions within each Assembly. He knows the strengths, the weaknesses, the exercises, the activities, everything about each Assembly is understood. As we will see in the second and third chapters of Revelation, He has commendations, warnings, and instructions that are specific to each Assembly. And we do well to heed them, because every assembly in the world fits into the pattern of one of the Assemblies in these chapters. If the Lord Jesus were to physically visit your Assembly today, and you were to ask Him for His assessment and advice, he would identify for you which of these seven Assemblies yours is like, and instruct you to apply that Assembly’s message to yours.
In our text, the Assembly in Ephesus is to receive a message. A number of years have passed since the apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesians. If we compare that epistle to the message that John is to send to Ephesus, we will find much has changed. That happens with Assemblies, Oversight comes and goes, Cliques rise and fall. Attitudes change, error creeps in and is dealt with, or not. Zeal in the Gospel ebbs and flows. With all of these changes, the Lord Jesus walks in the midst of the Assemblies, maintaining residence in each one. It is surely His desire that each Assembly will thrive and be faithful to His word. Not all of the Assemblies to which He is addressing messages in Revelation are thriving and faithful. Not all are thriving and faithful today. And yet, our Lord walks in the midst of them.
Is the Lord Jesus pleased or disappointed in the spiritual condition of your Assembly? What part are you playing in maintaining faithfulness to Him? -Jim MacIntosh