Preached by Mrs Munyai at Mukovha SDA on Sabbath, 7 November 2026, in Tshivenda. The summary below is from an English translation of the recording.
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” — Revelation 2:4
Key points
- We are here by God’s mercy, not our own strength (Acts 17:28). Many people hoped to reach this Sabbath and did not. In Him we live and move and have our being. Every day we are given should make us say, “Lord, we thank You.”
- Ephesus was a faithful, hard-working church (Revelation 2:2-3). God knew their works, their labour and their patience. They knew the truth, tested false apostles and endured hardship without fainting. In many ways they are like us today.
- Yet God said, “You have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4). We can keep coming to church, joining programmes and speaking about God while the love in our hearts grows cold. God looks deeper than our activities.
- Remember how you served at first (Revelation 2:5). Think back to when you were newly baptised. You prayed without being told, you helped people with food and clothing, and nobody had to push you to church or to keep the Sabbath. Our walk with God is our own responsibility.
- God’s warning comes with hope. He does not only condemn. He says “remember”, which means what we once had can be restored: the prayer, the commitment and the love.
- Do not sit down in the race. A runner who was leading but sits down because they are tired is left behind while the race goes on. Do not say “I have done enough.” We have not yet reached home.
- Return to the first works: share the Word. We were once eager to go into the villages and tell people that Jesus loves them and is coming again. Whether they accept it is not ours to control. Our part is to deliver the message.
- Decline happens little by little. It starts with putting off Sabbath preparation until Friday, then letting work and daily busyness push God aside. Small things add up until we are far from where we began.
- Let Jesus find us faithful. It would be terrible to attend church every Sabbath and still not be ready when He comes. Let Him find us still standing, still faithful and still serving Him.