November 06, 2023 | Be On Mission
Jesus' Message to Three More Churches
Scripture: Revelation 3(NIV)
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I 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. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
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 that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Devotional
Laodicea was a city in modern day Turkey located near Colossae. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he mentioned Laodicea several times (Colossians 2:1; 4:12-16). In the last section of Revelation 3, the Lord speaks some challenging truths to the Laodiceans using aspects of their own culture.
First, the city of Laodicea did not have its own fresh water supply. Colossae was only ten miles away, and had plenty of fresh, cold water. Hierapolis was six miles away, and was famous for hot, healing springs. But the Laodiceans had to import their water via an aqueduct. By the time it arrived it was lukewarm and contaminated with minerals. How does the angel compare this truth to their faith? What does lukewarm faith look like today?
Also, Laodicea was one of the wealthiest cities in the entire region. After a severe earthquake destroyed much of the city a few decades earlier, the well-funded citizens and well-established banks paid for the rebuilding, refusing help from the Roman senate. Verse 17 quotes them, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But the Lord tells them they are spiritually bankrupt. What is your greatest strength? What if God told you that you were just the opposite spiritually? What changes would you make?
Finally, Laodicea was known not only for wealth that resulted in a remarkable banking system, but also for a renowned textile industry that produced glossy black wool and an impressive school of medicine that produced a much-needed eye salve. In contrast to these three outstanding aspects of the city, the Lord said to the Laodicean Christians, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” What is your city best known for? How can reliance on those qualities become a spiritual trap?
But all is not lost. Jesus rebukes them and tells them to repent. Then He makes them a promise: “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 that person, and they with me.” Will you open the door of your life and let Jesus in to completely transform you?
Poem
Report Card
Revelation 2 & 3
An ‘A’ in perseverance
An ‘A’ evil avoids
Improvement needed in your love
The one first you employed
An ‘A’ despite your famine
A warehouse full you’ve stored
An ‘A’ ‘spite persecution
Against false ways you guard
An ‘A’ in boldly speaking
You clasp upon faith true
But tolerating bully lies?
Expecting more from you
Impressed with faith’s improvements
Each day, progress I see
But time to get out in the field
And face our enemy
A ‘D,’ quit lagging slothly
Much more you could achieve
Alert in class, quit daydreaming
Your best is what I need
I know your lack in places
You’re human after all
But special needs I’ve covered
Let’s meet in study hall
The last thing in my comments
You’re better than you show
A ‘C’ is just not good enough
Your apathy must go
You are my favorite students
Your progress is my goal
So heed my grading, meet the mark
My counsel now take hold
