HOW INDIFFERENCE AFFECTS JESUS Think of the faithfulness of our Lord, clearly seen in His words to these seven churches. He always commends what is good. You can count on Him to rebuke what is wrong. He will also provide a twofold incentive to recover from sin: threats of judgment, and promises to be obtained. The deeper the sin, the greater the promise, and the more severe the threat of judgment. The Lord always points to the END – to the grand consummation, when the warfare will be completed, and we will reign forever with Him. Stand and marvel at the magnitude of these expressions. -- Tomorrow:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev 3:14-22)
Devotion 2 of 20
1 – Eating from the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God (Ephesus, 2:7).
2 – A crown of life, and not being hurt by the second death (Smyrna, 2:10-11).
3 – Eating of the hidden manna, and receiving a new name (Pergamum, 2:17).
4 – Receiving power over the nations, and ruling them with a rod of iron (Thyatira, 2:26-27).
5 – Being clothed in white raiment, not being blotted out of the book of life, and being confessed before the Father and the angels (Sardis, 3:5).
6 – Being made a pillar in the temple of God, going no more out, and having the name of God, the holy city, and Christ's new name, written upon them (Philadelphia, 3:12).
7 – Sitting with Jesus in His throne (Laodicea, 3:21).
THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED
You must not fail to see the manner of the heavenly Kingdom in these messages! The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the object of Satan's attack – a message often repeated in this book of the Revelation (9:1-11; 12:3-15; 13:1-7; 16:13; 19:20). The church is also the subject of the King's scrutiny, the object of Divine love, and the focus of great promises. Jesus is the focus in heaven, and the church is the focus on earth. Because Satan has no access to heaven, having been expelled from it, he has concentrated upon the body of the redeemed. But He is not the only one giving heed to this holy band! The Lord Jesus Himself, who is over Satan and his hierarchy of evil, also pays close heed to the church. If the church will reciprocate by giving their undivided attention to Him, He will carry them through the attacks of the evil one. That is the overriding message of this grand book!
Any form of religion, regardless of its popularity, that leaves the church vulnerable to the devices of the wicked one (as described in this book) is of the devil himself. It is to be zealously avoided and opposed. A valid spiritual ministry is one which promotes the virtues that Jesus commends. It is one where the promises of Christ are affirmed with consistency, being held out before the people as a strong incentive to participation with Christ. Wherever an aggressive effort is being made to obtain the promises, Jesus is at work, and victory is on the way. Wherever the promises of God are NOT being aggressively pursued, the devil is at work, and the flesh is exercising the dominion. It will be startling to many to view the churches in this manner. There will be no place found for fleshly assessments, worldly acclaim, or glorying in appearance.
THE FINAL CHURCH IS ASSESSED
Now we come to the final assessment of the seven churches in Asia. The Lord Jesus is zealous to have this church ready for what is to come. He wants it to survive the onslaught of the wicked one, and obtain the promises He has procured for them. Although nothing of merit is found in this church, it can still be recovered if it will hear "what the Spirit is saying to the churches." Too, this is a message for individuals, who also can possess the handicaps or advantages ascribed to these churches. Our spiritual hearing must be keen and perceptive as we hear this final message! This is the Savior speaking, and He speaks in strict harmony with His nature, and with the "eternal purpose" of God Almighty. He is NOT assessing the church in view of Grecian culture, but in view of the purpose for which He has purchased it. The acclaim it has received in the world is of little consequence to Jesus. The entire worldly order has been rejected and repudiated by God. It is not salvageable! To be accepted by God, there must be regeneration – a birth into a new realm! The church begins its life in this realm, and it must never leave it. Like a fish dies when it is removed from the water, so the church dies when it is removed from heavenly places – the heavenly places into which it was raised upon entrance into Christ (Eph 2:6). It is not possible to overemphasize the seriousness of the message to the church at Laodicea! It is appropriate yea, imperative, for our time. In fact, I have chosen it because it is so remarkably like the church of our time, especially the one in the Western world.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for strength and grace to avoid your criticism and obtain your praise.