Revelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, Thanks

DAY 10
I’M FINE, THANKS
Revelation 2:14-22

Last of all, Jesus criticizes spiritual apathy. No church embodies this more clearly than the Church of Laodicea. The city was wealthy, a financial hub like Wall Street. It was known for luxury clothing and even medicine. Many citizens were wealthy. Jesus looks at the Christians in Laodicea and sees they're not much different from the non-Christians. They've got enough creature comforts to think, "I'm doing okay." Worship and the way of Jesus take a backseat. God fades into the background.

That kind of spirituality is no good to its owners and no good to anyone else. Jesus says so when he tells Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). Laodicea had natural hot springs nearby and cold water in nearby mountains. Hot and cold - both useful in different ways. By the time you piped either one to town, they were lukewarm. Ever gone for a cold drink and the first blast was lukewarm. You take a sip and BLEH! No good! 

Most of the seven churches were a mixed bag of good and bad, just like churches today. Jesus refuses to leave his people in this way. He insists on taking us to victory, total victory, over sin, death, and the devil. Jesus praises and prods his people to victory. 

Are you open to that? Are you willing to let Jesus Christ speak to the details of your life, to bandage your wounds, to make painful but healing surgical cuts?  

You should be, because Jesus Christ makes a promise to every church, and to us, that he’ll lead us to victory if we trust him. Each promise anticipates God’s new creation that we’ll see more of later in Revelation. That’s when evil and suffering are finished. More than that, he promises to be us: “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” (Rev 3:20). It’s the promise of a deeply personal connection directly to God. That’s yours if you’ll open up to Jesus Christ.

REFLECT
If Jesus wrote you a short letter, what might he praise? What problems might he prod you about? What about a letter to your church or the churches of America?

PRAY
Jesus, you are the Amen, the faithful and true witness. You rebuke and discipline those whom you love - and you love me. Praise whatever virtue you find in me, and show me anything I need to repent of. Amen.