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Rev. 3
What does Jesus recommend for the lukewarm in the Laodicean church? God knows our hearts. He knows why and in whose power we do the things we do. Jesus said to each of these churches, “I know your deeds”. But ultimately God doesn’t judge us by our deeds. He judges us by what’s in our hearts. Like the church in Ephesus from yesterday’s reading, the churches in Sardis and Laodicea were found lacking. The deeds were there, but something was missing.
Though the church of Sardis looked alive, they were really dead inside. They received a similar message to Ephesus. “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.” (Rev. 3:3a). Just as our own love is not enough, neither is our own life. Both come from God. Thus, if we are not operating out of His grace, we are lacking.
The church in Laodicea comes across a little differently to me. I don’t so much see them as trying to gain God’s favor in their own strength as I see them simply going through the motions. They were comfortable; not facing persecution like some of the other churches. So in their case, they forgot their need. They came to rely on their possessions and their comfortable position rather than relying on God. The key for me here is that we need to realize that anything the world provides amounts to nothing. Just as with Ephesus and Sardis, Laodicea needed what comes from God.
That’s what made the church in Philadelphia different. Jesus said of them, “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Rev. 3:8b). If they had little strength, they did not do this on their own. Jesus also told them, “Hold on to what you have” (Rev. 3:11a), indicating that they had not set aside God’s grace, as so many of the other churches had. And the message I see Jesus repeating to each of the churches is that those who hold fast to God’s grace will live forever in His victory.
2 Chron 35-36
I can’t help but notice the unified effort in Josiah’s Passover celebration. Josiah and his officials willingly and abundantly provided so that all the people could participate. And the Levites made preparations for the priests so they could concentrate on their jobs, whether making sacrifices or music. I get the sense that everybody was there with one focused purpose and that they were seamlessly working together for that purpose.
Though they didn’t know it at the time, the Passover wasn’t just to celebrate their delivery from slavery in Egypt. Ultimately, the Passover celebrates Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. So I think that sense of single minded focus and unity is as it should be. When we come together in God’s grace – our Passover – we become united in sacrificing our lives to the one who gave His life for us. Like the love, life and strength that we noted in Revelation, true unity comes from God.