Thinking Thursday

[Rev 3:14-22 ESV] 14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 

Jesus!  Amen = sure and truly.  Witness=from which we get the word martyr.  Beginning = origin.  Reminds me of the verse:  [Jhn 1:3 ESV] 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

You are just ehhh!  Nothing exciting about you. 

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 

I love that scene in War Room in which the older lady serves the younger lady lukewarm coffee.  Lukewarm coffee is the worse.  Hot or ice cold is better.  Lukewarm is easier to spit out than to swallow.  This is such a good word picture.

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

To me this describes most churches in America.  We are most comfortable and do not look much different than the world.  We don't know the meaning of sacrifice as Christians in other countries around the world do.  We are to be pitied as we do not understand the deep things of God. 

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 

To borrow modern day venacular, we need to be woke.  We need to view the current world as God views it...lost.

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

One sign of God's love is his discipline as it says in Hebrews:  [Heb 12:6 ESV] 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."  He wants me to be more like Jesus.  To be like Jesus is to let go of the things that do not benefit me spiritually. 

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 

Cultivate your relationship with the Lord.  Seek Him and spend time with him.

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Be a conqueror, because that will get us eternity with Him. 

22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

It's been written in black and white; it has been made clear in all that has been written to the 7 churches.  Do not do what He warns against and pursue what He praises and values.