If you've ever had to buy a house, you understand the importance of having a house inspected. Maybe you found a beautiful house that had ever amenity, met all your requirements, was freshly painted, and well-landscaped, but after further examination the foundations were neglected and weak. From the outside, the structure is impressive, but underneath, where you might not even see it, the foundation is vulnerable to collapse.
Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7; Isaiah 29:13
Much like the house in the above illustration, the church at Ephesus looked successful from the outside, but had neglected their spiritual health, which is rooted in a genuine love for Christ. This mirrors the warning in Isaiah about honoring God with our words while our hearts are far from Him. It serves as a stark reminder that true spiritual health requires more than just outward actions or external expressions of worship, which can become hollow if they are not rooted in a real, heartfelt connection with God. The church at Ephesus was busy with activities and service, yet they had lost the heart of their worship.
Jesus often criticized and rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for the same thing—turning spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and helping the poor into ways to show off and puff themselves up. It wasn’t about obeying God or loving others, but impressing others and trying to earn God’s favor. Jesus said it’s better to pray in your closet, to not show outward signs of fasting, and not let your right hand know when your left hand gives or serves others. In other words, we must examine whether our service is for God's glory or our own, for the applause of Heaven or the approval of people.
Reflection Questions:
In what ways might your own spiritual life be more about appearances than authentic faith?
What steps can you take to ensure that your heart is as engaged as your actions in your walk with God?
Prayer Prompt: Lord, help us to serve You with hearts that are truly devoted. Let our worship and service be genuine reflections of our love for You, not just routines we perform.
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