“Listen To What The Spirit Is
Saying”
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The
words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation:”
“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish
that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered,
and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor,
blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire
so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of
your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may
see. I reprove and disciple those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and
repent. Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and
open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. To the
one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Let anyone who has an ear
listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Revelation 3:14-22
Jesus began many of his letters by affirming the good
things His people had done. This shows us that when we do what is good and
right, the Lord is pleased.
But Jesus is also concerned about the faults in our lives.
His commendation in these letters was often followed by clear words of
reproof. He reveals what needs to be
changed in our lives to keep us from self-deceit.
This moves us to the real heart of the matter –
repentance. When the Lord told these churches to repent, He was revealing His
love for wayward saints. His goal was not to condemn but to restore them to
intimate fellowship with Him.
Each letter ends with a special promise to those He wrote
to. Clearly God desires to reward those who live lives that are pleasing to
Him. What is He saying to you today?
Repentance restores and renews our
intimacy with the Lord.
Our Daily Bread – July 27, 2009