20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. IF ANYONE (Invitation to All) hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me. Revelation 3:20
20 But OUR CITIZENSHIP IS (Not will be) IN HEAVEN. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
I was pondering Revelation 3:20 today and then I read the same reference in Paul’s words to the Philippian Church and saw they had some common trends.
Laodicea was the last of the seven churches the Lord addressed in John’s revelation and He kept His sternest words for them, BUT He still gave them an opportunity to listen to Him and repent. Truly we serve a patient and good God!
The Laodicean Church had a view of themselves that was totally at variance from how the Lord saw them, basically they valued the material things of this world more than the Lord. Yet they still tried to keep a foot in both camps and do enough to enjoy life here and at the same time avoid His judgement. Christ is still Lord of the Church, He is the Head and knows everything, including people’s hearts. The shocking thing was the magnitude of the difference between what they thought and their reality in the Lord’s sight.
17 You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Five major failings) 18 I counsel you TO BUY FROM ME gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. Revelation 3
The Lord went on to tell the Laodicean Church that, ‘Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. SO BE EARNEST AND REPENT’.
The Lord expected change from their church and He told them that there would be times of discipline. He still expects the same willingness to receive His correction from believers in the present time. He extends this invitation to anyone, to come and share with them if they’ll open their hearts and listen to Him.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Christ offers fantastic promises to the churches and specifically to those who overcome the challenges of this world system, the flesh and the devil. May the Lord help us to love Him and live for Him during the short span of our lives on earth.
May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.