Weekly Devotional

December 7, 2025

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to our Finishing Well devotionals!

Nate is the founder of a collaborative company called Moments to Movements. M2M comes alongside senior level leaders to help them navigate personal and organizational change.

Finishing Well Devotional: Dec. 2025 

In the spring of 2023 I had the opportunity to walk the same roads the early church walked in Ephesus, Smyrna, Laodicea and the other churches Jesus wrote to in the book of Revelation. We stood and read Scripture in the places where these letters were received. These were places of massive theological decisions, global church leader training (Acts 19), and more importantly, Jesus saw these people and spoke to them personally and honestly so they too can finish well. This is why reading Revelation is hopeful, not harmful to our hearts. 

In Revelation 2, Jesus has a holistic and integrated conversation with His Churches. He sees the hard work of Ephesians, how they won’t tolerate false leaders, bad theology, or a poor work ethic. Jesus also addresses what’s holding them back from flourishing. They’ve drifted from the one thing that will help them finish well; their first love. Jesus knows the key to finishing well, regardless of our age, is staying connected to Him as our first love. How do we stay (re)connected to our first love, especially in the busiest season of the year?  

“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:5 

Remember.  Repent.  Return. 

When something is broken our first reaction is often to scramble to “fix it.” We react in our wisdom, only to later see the damage of our decisions. Then we live in shame, guilt, and silence for years. Leave it to Jesus to do everything opposite of the world. Jesus doesn’t ask the church in Ephesus to get busy “fixing” what’s broken, He invites them to enter a healing process. A process of remembering how grace is no longer their starting point. Remembering our need leads them to repentance, which means making our home again in Christ. This frees our hearts to do the things we did at first with Jesus. And what are those things? 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7 

Listen to the Spirit and Live in Victory. 

I can have a tendency to over complicate or overthink things in life. Thankfully Jesus leads us and the Church in Ephesus to a pathway forward in His love, power, and purpose by returning to the voice of His Spirit more than ourselves. Living in His victory more than waiting for what we hope to accomplish to bring us peace. 

This Christmas season let’s take a few moments to listen to Jesus and rest in our first love. 

Where have your efforts become more of your hope than the work of Jesus?  Remember.

What good thing have you trusted in more than the work of Jesus?  Repent.

What is the Spirit saying to you today, so you may glorify Jesus?   Return.