"I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you cannot tolerate evil. you have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place-- unless you repent. Revelation 2:2-5 (HCSB)

While I was praying this morning these verses stood out to me. The church of Ephesus was a church that was doing a lot of good things. It appears they had zeal for truth and that they endured much. But what does God have against them? "You have abandoned the love you had at first."

This scripture reminds me of Mary and Martha of Bethany. Martha asked Jesus to rebuke her sister. Martha was busy preparing the food, looking after her guests, and cleaning the house. She was so busy with these tasks that she didn't have time to rest. And what was her sister Martha doing? Sitting at the feet of Jesus. As Martha plead her case this is Jesus' response,

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

It seems, God wants our presence with Him more than He wants us doing things for Him. Friendship is what God wants most.