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 Habakkuk 3:6 His ways are everlasting.What he hath done at one time, he will do yet again. Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth: among them are the following--the Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; he ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One himself can undergo change, his ways, which are himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender?--then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, his ways will abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason from without which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still, when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might alone which gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him the Lord is ever gracious to his people. Daily Light on the Daily Path Zephaniah 3:15 The LORD has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You will fear disaster no more.Isaiah 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 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." Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Revelation 21:3,4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, • and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 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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