This Week's Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22
The seven churches in Revelation may have been chosen to receive Christ's apocalyptic message because of their location. They were all located along a major trade route, which included the most populous and influential parts of the province. Once the message predicting the end of the world was given to churches in these cities, the message would easily spread to Christian communities in the rest of the province.
Each letter was spoken by Jesus, and recorded by John. Even though a different message was written to each of the seven churches, all the messages contain warnings and principles for everyone. The advice in these letters is prophetic (predicting the future) forewarning us of the traps than can lure us away from our faith in Christ.
The message in chapter 3 is written to the church in Laodicea. Laodicea was the most wealthy of the seven churches. It was known for its banking industry, cloth & dyeing industry, and a medical school that produced eye salve.
In verse 16, John recorded that the Laodicean Church was lukewarm, it had become hardened and self-satisfied. It was destroying itself. The same can be said of our churches today; halfhearted, in-name-only Christians who pride themselves on being self sufficient. Jesus counseled them to buy gold from Him. Gold that is spiritual treasure. Instead of clothing from their cloth & dyeing industry, Jesus tells them to wear white clothes from Him (righteousness). Christ told them not to use their eye salve, but to get medicine from Him to heal their eyes so they could see the truth.
Christ was showing the Laodicean Church that true value was not in material possessions, but in a right relationship with God. Our material possessions and achievements have no value compared to the everlasting future of Christ's Kingdom. When we look at churches in our society today, we see indifference, and uncaring attitudes. We, like the Laodicians, are a “me first” affluent society. We can avoid God's discipline by inviting Him back into our hearts, through confession, worship, service, and studying His Word. The Holy Spirit can reignite our passion and devotion for God when we allow Him to work in our hearts.
The commentary in the NIV Life Application Study Bible says, “The Laodicean church was complacent and rich. They felt self-satisfied, but they didn't have Christ's presence among them. Christ knocked at the door of their hearts, but they were so busy enjoying worldly pleasures that they didn't notice that he was trying to enter. The pleasures of this world – money, security, material possessions – can be dangerous, because their temporary satisfaction makes us indifferent to God's offer of lasting satisfaction.” Verse 20 describes our twenty-first century churches too. It's why our society is crumbling. Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts. He wants to have fellowship with us, and he wants us to open the door and invite Him inside.
In One Year At His Feet, Chris Tiegreen says, “ Jesus does not want only to be followed and obeyed. He wants to be savored and enjoyed. In the dining room of our life, He wants the lengthy, personal fellowship of the common meal, not the brief acknowledgment before it. Jesus is not just at our door for a visit, He's moving in. He puts all His touches on the place and fixes it up just as He likes.”
I'm left with such peace and comfort thinking of Jesus moving in and making a lovely home in my heart. Many people have forgotten that only Jesus can provide spiritual wealth saving us from the spiritual bankruptcy that has befallen humanity.
