The Letter to the Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2: 1-7

Jesus sent the Ephesian church a message of deep concern.
It wasn’t about an overt sin or some doctrine they failed to learn.
It wasn’t about a lack of hard work or failure to persevere;
Their commitment to serve the Lord was known to be sincere.

It wasn’t because they welcomed new teachers without a proper test,
The Ephesian believers were true to the Word. Its veracity they stressed.
So what was the problem Jesus had? What was he intolerant of?
What did he see in the Ephesian church that created this call from above?

The Ephesians left their first love behind; to that they must return.
This was our Lord’s serious charge expressed in the strongest of terms.
It’s fine to proclaim the gospel, to tell of our Lord above,
But very few are able to hear it when they fail to feel the love.

He called them first to remember, then to repent and restore.
Remember the love, restore the deeds; get back to that place once more.
If they failed to heed His Words; if they failed to do what was right,
All their labor would be in vain if Jesus removed their light.

I know there’s a truth in here for us, a message we need to heed.
It’s not to allow the lesser things to crowd out the truth we need.
So let us love the Lord our God with all our heart and might;
Let us dispel the darkness of sin by reflecting God’s glorious light.

Revelation 2:2-7
2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent.6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’(NKJV)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Revelation 2, 3

God gave a word to each congregation of seven key churches in Revelation.
Each of these churches set the stage for explaining conditions in their age.
First we see the earliest days when the Spirit set their hearts ablaze.
When Ephesus began to lose her first love, God sent a warning from above.

Next is Smyrna where some were slain; many endured persecution’s pain.
In spite of poverty and affliction they displayed the depth of their conviction.
Though oppressed under Satan’s thumb, the Lord gave them courage to overcome.
This was His promise during the test: “You will not see the second death.”

The believers who called Pergamum home lived next door to Satan’s throne.
There in the midst of Satan’s threats Antipas was faithful even to death.
But there were some who hindered salvation by showing Balam toleration.
If a pure life you want to feature, stop giving credence to the false teacher.

Thyatira showed good deeds and faith but also false teaching to erase.
Jesus called out Jezebel, said he was sending her straight to hell;
Said he had given her time to repent, to reflect upon how her life was spent.
Then He said unto the rest, “Reject her teaching and pass the test.”

Sardis too received a strong word, the strongest they had ever heard.
He told them that their reputation did not match their situation.
There were a few unsoiled by sin, whose lives were pure without and within.
Only a few who shone like a light, whose names were found in the Book of Life.

Philadelphia was given an open door. Because they won souls, He gave them more.
Even though their strength was small they succeeded because they gave their all.
This is the church whose sole ambition was to fulfill their earthly mission.
When before Him on bended knee, I hope these words can be said about me.

Finally we come to Laodicee. It’s not the church where anyone should be.
Materially rich but spiritually poor; they’re not impressive and not mature.
Their hearts were neither hot nor cold; no spiritual fruit was there to behold.
Jesus had wisdom to impart if only they’d open the door of their heart.

This is a summary of the churched whose faith was tested and character besmirched.
For some there was a good report. For others, it’s clear: their lives fell short.
So here’s the message we should see: let us strive to be all we can be.
Let us serve the Lord in humility and grace pursuing His will, seeking His face.

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Which One Are You?

Revelation 3:15-16, 19-20

Are you a light shining bright in the darkness of night?
Or are you affright, losing the fight,
Overwhelmed by the waves that engulf you.
Which one are you?

Is your heart aflame, proclaiming the name of the One
Who saves you? Or are you in pain, wounded and maimed
By the enemy whose lust still craves you?
Which one are you?

Are you strong? Do you belong? Will you stay long at the feet of Him
Who would bless you? Or are you flighty, certainly not mighty,
Unwilling to let Him possess you?
Which one are you?

Come to the Source for the power to enforce the will of God Almighty.
Do not flee in retreat, again to repeat
The bondage that long has enslaved you.
This you must do.

Revelation 3:15-16, 19-20
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth...19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (NIV)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

The Message of The Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18

There is a message we all should heed.
It’s not about cars or money or deed.
It’s a message that points to the Savior’s cross;
A message of hope, not a message of loss.

Competing voices in the world today
Each one seeking to have his say.
One voice is God speaking through His Word,
The other my flesh speaking things absurd.

“O Come for salvation, My Word shows you how.”
“No! Live for the present, live for the now!”

“O Come to the truth, kneel at the cross.”
“If I have to do that, I’d rather stay lost!”

The Word speaks out, but the flesh answers back,
“I will not hear a message like that.”

So we come to the end of our life so short;
We sift through our deeds, our values we sort
We bought all the cars and the house with the pool,
But our soul is lost, and we’ve played the fool!

Each sinner some day will stand before God
Where heads will all turn, and then they will nod...
Their knees will bend, their tongues confess
That Jesus the Lord, they chose to reject.

The way of salvation comes through Christ’s tree,
Not by our talent or things we may be;
Nor by our deeds, for they are but dross.
Our hope of salvation comes through the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18
“… the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Two Men at the Temple

Two Men at the Temple
Luke 18:10-14

Two men went to the temple. Both were there to pray.
One was a man composed, the other in disarray.
The first was a man blinded by pride, his prayer revealing how he felt inside.
The second man was shamed by sin, expressing deep sorrow for what he had been.
Jesus listened to each man’s prayer, looked in his heart and saw what was there.

The first man felt quite impressive; his religious deeds were aggressive.
He always placed the tithe in the treasure and fasted weekly just for good measure.
He looked all around, considered the men; felt fairly sure he was better than them.
There before him were thieves and molesters. He especially despised that tax collector.

The Pharisee stood up (so all could hear) and cried to the Lord in front of his peers,
“O Lord, I’m glad I’m not like them,” (then named every sin he could condemn.)
The Pharisee felt he should be adored, but he brought no joy to the heart of the Lord.
His self-righteous prayer was ignorant and cruel. The sad truth is this: he was a fool.

The other man fixed his eyes on the ground. He didn’t look up or look around.
“Forgive me O God. Lord, I implore thee; my sinful deeds are ever before me.”
He beat his chest as he poured out his plea. A more repentant sinner one could not see.
Jesus was impressed by the sinner sincere, his contrition authentic; his confession clear.

Here are some thoughts that come from this story: Humble yourself, give God the glory.
Since we see that God hates pride, take control of your life; don’t let it preside.
God loves those whose heart is contrite, broken vessels who want to get right.
“O Lord My God, this I pray, remove sinful pride and cleanse me today. “

Luke 18:10-14
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(NIV)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Dress for Success

Dress for Success
Ephesians 6:13-18

Did you know we believers are in a war? Our enemy is vicious, not one to ignore.
In order to triumph in this test, let’s check out the manual to dress for success.

We buckle on the belt of truth. Works best if we wear it from our youth.
The Breastplate of Righteousness does its part giving protection to the heart.

Fitted with peace, our feet are ready to move forward in battle or to stand steady.
The shield of faith provides protection when arrows are fired from every direction.

Our minds we protect from evil temptation by wearing the helmet of salvation.
We pick up the fearsome sword of the spirit so lethal to demons they won’t come near it.

This is how we dress each day, but before we head out, we stop to pray.
We exalt our God with prayers and praises trusting His guidance in all its phases.

There’s coming a day when we’ll battle no more, but until then we fight in this war.
The armor, the weapons and giving of thanks help us prevail oer the enemy’s ranks.

So get up tomorrow; be ready to fight, put on the armor; go forth in God’s might.
Soon our Lord will call us up higher, but the devil will land in the Lake of Fire.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph 6:13-18 (NIV)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

What does it mean to be Born Again?

I’m surprised so few truly understand the plan of salvation from God to man.
Take Nicodemus for example. His account is a typical sample.

Nicodemus came to Christ in the night. He well understood man’s sinful plight.
He had no doubt that Jesus was Lord whose wisdom and power He adored.

Jesus told him “be born again,” a phrase he struggled to comprehend.
He said, “This can’t happen, I’m a full-grown man.” But Jesus said, “Oh yes it can.”

May I share what the new birth means? It refers to a truth not easily seen.
The Bible declares salvation was planned even before the creation of man.

Since we are marked by sin’s dark stain, there is no way that man can attain
The righteous condition that he needs through practicing religion or doing good deeds.

God is able to grant salvation by transforming our lives into a new creation.
We believe the promise the gospel gave, that Jesus died our souls to save.

This you will learn in a Bible search: Salvation is not in the name of your church.
Salvation can’t come from minister or priest, nor is it found in a Jewish feast.

My friend, as you read the scripture through, you find there’s nothing humans can do
To reverse the effect of sin’s great flood except to thank Christ for His cleansing blood.

We kneel before the Lord in prayer; admit our faults, our souls lay bare. Then
Through the Spirit, He enters our life. His presence is real. We live in the light.

Somehow deep in the depths of our soul, we know we’re forgiven, cleansed; made whole.
This is how Jesus becomes our friend. This is how we’re born again.

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3)

“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24b)

© Copyright George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved