Christ, the Savior and Lord, knows our thoughts, actions, and feelings regarding our calling, including the times when we did not want to obey Him and did things that were not assigned to us. We cannot behave like rebellious people who do not know who the heavenly Father is.

When Jesus inspired John to write to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 2:1‒3:22), including the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7), His love worked wonders, and the Father was glorified by His actions. Christ revealed to the Christians in Ephesus that He knew their works. Being God, would He not know them? Undoubtedly, everything is known to the Lord. Now, when the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus' clothes, He stopped and asked who had touched Him, for He wanted to bless her publicly.

God knows the work of those who desire to overcome and be blessed, seeking the basis for this in the Scriptures. When we work for the Truth, Christ intercedes for us with the Father, so that we may become good stewards of grace and blessers (1 Peter 4:10). Jesus said: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened (Luke 11.10). He knows you and knows if you use what is given to you well. Do your best!

An important detail about the Ephesians: the Savior saw their patience (Revelation 2:2). On the other hand, some brothers give in to impatience and lose many who could become members of the Body of Christ and remain under their care. David revealed the value of patience: I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. (Psalm 40.1) Jesus declared: By your patience possess your souls. (Luke 21.19). What a lesson from the Master!

The Ephesians had another virtue praised by Christ: they could not suffer evil, that is, endure their work. Bad workers are like poison in churches, because they scare away those who want to know the Lord. David prayed for deliverance from the wicked: Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood— (Psalm 144.11). Pray, watch, and you will be happy!

The Church must pray that the Lord will deliver it from false apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors who are not prepared to lead the Body of Christ, as well as from teachers who do not study the Word or seek God for what to preach and teach people. On the other hand, nothing compares to servants who cry out for the ministers of the Church to be people who love and fear God, so that the Church does not suffer because of the work of those who do not love the Father.

There is no place for liars in the ministry of the Word, for we work for the salvation of the people whom the hand of the Lord wants to reach. Some are beginning to take their first steps in faith in Christ, and if there are liars presiding over them, they will never see the light. Saving the lost is our mission!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares.