Faithful on Fridays Blog

The last of the Seven Churches Jesus addressed is Laodicea located in a valley between two cities who sent them water: one hot and one cold. Jesus used this imagery to expose their attitude toward Him. When the healing, hot water or refreshing, cold water reached their city the temperature had changed to lukewarm which made people sick.

He identified Himself as The Amen, the absolute truth and The Faithful and True Witness worthy of our faith. Also, He’s The Beginning of Creation meaning He’s the Source and the principal authority.

The Laodiceans were a proud, self-centered people due to their successes and prosperity; they became self-reliant refusing help which, interestingly, was the meaning of their name. That attitude crept into the church and Jesus severely confronted it out of His love and affection (phileo) for them. They say they’re rich and successful but Jesus countered that attitude with the absolute truth: in His eyes they’re miserable, poor, blind, barren, and naked! Yikes.

Jesus’ correction didn’t bring abandonment but offered a solution: exchange your self-sufficiency for God-necessity. His offer was spiritual righteousness, spiritual clothing or empowerment, and spiritual sight. Laodicea was famous for it’s medicinal eye salve and our Savior used that fact to direct their minds to the truth: His love for them included rebuke and discipline, not punishment but teaching and training.

Our Bridegroom desires His Bride to be passionate for Him, consider Him our All-sufficient One, and repent when we fall into the trap of materialism. His jealousy for the Church is a dramatic picture painted as a closed door He pounds on to get the attention of someone, anyone, to open up and invite Him in. That profound imagery, again, shows His divine love and desire to fellowship with her and it hasn’t changed.

We are that Bride, The Church, and some of our communities are in that place of self-reliance; we’ve done a great job, just look at our attendance and finances! God’s blessing us and our programs … but is He? 

True revival begins with one heart who hears His voice, His knocking, and invites Him in with a heart of repentance and passion which catches on like wildfire. When Jesus-lovers gather it’s a reflection of their own intimacy with the Savior and there’s an electric charge that’s released in the Spirit. Have you felt it in your services? If not, be that one who opens the door and invites His presence: He promises to show up.

Lastly, to Nike believers Jesus promised to share His throne with us. What? Read verse 21, reminiscent of Paul’s teaching:

… even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:5-6 ESV

Church leaders, let’s truthfully evaluate ourselves by these seven letters encouraging and teaching us then watch Him work.