Bible League: Living His Word "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."— Revelation 3:18 NKJV The church in Laodicea had a big problem. They were insufficiently zealous. Jesus said of them: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). The Laodiceans didn't see the problem. They thought, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing." They thought, in other words, that they were spiritually wealthy and that their spiritual zeal was sufficient. Jesus, in contrast, thought just the opposite. He thought they didn't even know they were spiritually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). Jesus loved the Laodiceans. That's why He took the trouble to rebuke them (Revelation 3:19). That's why He gave them the words of our verse for today. He told them what they needed to do in order to correct their miserable state. He told them three things. First, He said they should buy from Him "gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich." This means that the Laodiceans should ask Jesus for pure spiritual fervor. Spiritual fervor that, like gold refined in a fire, has been purified of its dross. Only then will they be spiritually rich. Second, He said they should buy from Him "white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed." They should, that is, ask Jesus for the purity that comes from salvation. Just as clothes cover the body's nakedness, so the purity that comes from salvation covers the soul's sinful lack of zeal. Finally, they should "anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." They should ask Jesus for the spiritual insight to see their true spiritual state. They were spiritually lukewarm and couldn't see it. Spiritual insight would be the remedy for their blindness. Today, let us consider the intensity of our spiritual fervor. Could it be that there's some Laodicean in us? If so, then we should ask of Jesus what we need. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingHosea 12, 13, 14 Hosea 12 -- Ephraim's Sins Provoke God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 13 -- Ephraim's Idolatry; God's Anger and Judgment NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Hosea 14 -- Exhortation to Repentance and Promise of God's Blessing NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 3 Revelation 3 -- Messages to the Churches in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.Insight Teaching was a highly valued and respected profession in Jewish culture, and many Jews who embraced Christianity wanted to become teachers. James warned that although it is good to aspire to teach, the teachers' responsibility is great because their words and example affect others' spiritual lives. Challenge If you are in a teaching or leadership role, how are you affecting those you lead? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Hosea 5:7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord.Believer, here is a sorrowful truth! Thou art the beloved of the Lord, redeemed by blood, called by grace, preserved in Christ Jesus, accepted in the Beloved, on thy way to heaven, and yet, "thou hast dealt treacherously" with God, thy best friend; treacherously with Jesus, whose thou art; treacherously with the Holy Spirit, by whom thou hast been quickened unto life eternal! How treacherous you have been in the matter of vows and promises. Do you remember the love of your espousals, that happy time--the springtime of your spiritual life? Oh, how closely did you cling to your Master then! saying, "He shall never charge me with indifference; my feet shall never grow slow in the way of his service; I will not suffer my heart to wander after other loves; in him is every store of sweetness ineffable. I give all up for my Lord Jesus' sake." Has it been so? Alas! if conscience speak, it will say, "He who promised so well has performed most ill. Prayer has oftentimes been slurred--it has been short, but not sweet; brief, but not fervent. Communion with Christ has been forgotten. Instead of a heavenly mind, there have been carnal cares, worldly vanities and thoughts of evil. Instead of service, there has been disobedience; instead of fervency, lukewarmness; instead of patience, petulance; instead of faith, confidence in an arm of flesh; and as a soldier of the cross there has been cowardice, disobedience, and desertion, to a very shameful degree." "Thou hast dealt treacherously." Treachery to Jesus! what words shall be used in denouncing it? Words little avail: let our penitent thoughts execrate the sin which is so surely in us. Treacherous to thy wounds, O Jesus! Forgive us, and let us not sin again! How shameful to be treacherous to him who never forgets us, but who this day stands with our names engraven on his breastplate before the eternal throne. Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 14:15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward.1 Chronicles 19:13 "Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight." Nehemiah 4:9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. John 7:17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. Hosea 6:3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; Isaiah 35:3,4 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. • Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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