To the Church in Laodicea

The church in Laodicea was marked by wealth. The letter mentions Laodicea’s infrastructure (water ways) and industry (medicine) in a warning against lukewarm complacency. This text has long been a helpful warning to churches in wealthy areas like our own. Let this text challenge and speak to you, today.

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REFLECTION

The Church at Laodicea

By Jeff Morlock

Laodicea means “lukewarm.” The water of this ancient city was undrinkable, so they had hot water pumped in from the nearby city of Hierapolis, and cold water from Colossae. But by the time it reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm and hard to stomach—just like the faith of the Christian community there.

Compromise, conceit, and complacency are unflattering adjectives. But they accurately describe the church at Laodicea, which had lost its first love, and was in deep denial about their spiritual condition. Through John of Patmos, Jesus gives this congregation a reality check that serves as a warning for the entire body of Christ today. Churches can grow large in terms of members, programs, and buildings that serve their agenda, which can easily be mistaken for the agenda of Christ. How sad it would be if Jesus found himself outside of such churches - knocking on their door when he comes again!

Laodicea was famous for three things; their substantial wealth, the development of a unique eye balm containing healing properties, and popular tunics or outer garments called trimata, which were manufactured there. It’s likely that members of the Laodicean Christian community worked in these industries, and perhaps became affluent as a result. So when Jesus declares, “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked,” it’s a painful rebuke that strikes at the heart of their identity. And that’s the problem. Their identity is in these things, instead of in Christ. Yet Jesus - lover that he is - pleads for repentance, returning, and change. And he does so in terms of five admonishments that offer a spiritual prescription for healing.

1. Seek riches from above, such as character and virtue - refined in the fire of suffering (3:18). The church that knows that its true treasures are eternal will use its wealth, not as a tool to build themselves up, but as a resource for loving God, blessing others, and bearing fruit for the kingdom. 
2. Seek the righteousness of Christ (not blaming, excusing, denying, hiding, or trying harder) to cover sin and shame (v. 18)
3. Seek divine healing to open spiritual eyes blinded by rebellion and deceit (v. 18). 
4. Seek repentance to overcome compromise and zeal to overcome complacency (3:19). 
5. Seek to conquer distractions and listen for the knock (voice, word, leading) of Jesus himself (v. 20).

Which of these admonishments might UALC need most right now? Because the church is made up of individual disciples, which part(s) of this prescription do you need to appropriate today?

Lord God, your love for us is never tepid. Please forgive our tendency to trend lukewarm and give us hearts that burn with holy zeal for you! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, give us victory over anything that would prevent us from being the sort of disciples your Son deserves, and the kind of community that is a foretaste of your eternal kingdom. In the name of Jesus, the King. Amen.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - FRIDAY

FAITH -  Pray for faith instead of fear, that many would come to faith in Jesus and that we would all trust God more deeply during this time.

Turn up the heat

Have you ever been thirsty? You take a swallow of what you think is ice-cold water; instead, you end up with a mouthful of lukewarm water? When that happened to me, I wanted to spit it out.

Christ is about to spit out the Church of Laodicea for their lukewarm faith. Christ looks at the works of the Church and doesn’t like what He sees. The members claim to be Christian, yet what they do and how they live doesn’t reflect true faith. They are more excited and on fire about their accumulated riches. They are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.

Christ tells the church He wants totally committed hearts or none at all. He tells them what they need to do, “Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!” (v 19b The Message)

Christ is looking at you and me as individuals and as part of the church body. Are we showing lukewarm faith, or are we on fire? Are we indifferent and uncommitted or excited and enthusiastic? Is Christ reprimanding us or praising us?

Christ is knocking at our door. He wants to generously pour out His grace on us. He wants us absolutely committed to Him.

When our faith is expressed through a commitment to glorify God, prayer and worship become more meaningful. God's love is real and our faith comes alive in our hearts. Without thinking, we use what God has given us to bless others and are blessed in return. Isn’t this the faith God wants to see?

Judy Mathis, one of the original authors of Daily Bible Blast, posted this devotion back in 2010.

Revelation 3:14-22

Get Off the Fence!

Revelation 3:15-18 (NIV) 

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! (Revelation 3:15)

There are times in life when we have decisions to make and sometimes these circumstances don't impact us much. The decision could go one way or the other and we do not have strong feelings about either.

Where we go for dinner, which car to take to work today; these are not usually life-changing choices for us. But, there are other situations where the choices we make today will change our tomorrows forever.

So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

The decision we made to follow Jesus is one of those forevermore situations. Following Jesus is all about love; loving Him and loving one another. Loving one another requires serving and caring for each other. When life-changing situations arise we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We wouldn’t just sit by and watch while someone approaches the edge of a cliff and not shout out a warning. No, we would do everything we could to prevent them from falling. A whisper would be of no help. As they approach the edge we need to get in their path, open their eyes to the danger ahead.

It is time to get off the fence, to step out of the boat, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is time to show our love for Jesus by loving one another; deciding which side of the fence to live on. Just as a lukewarm beverage is not palatable, fencing sitting is equally unimpressive.
Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-22 - Jesus stands at the door

There was a scary movie many years ago called, "I saw what you did, and I know who you are."  It was about two teens who were telephone pranking and they just happened to call the wrong person.  All sorts of trouble ensued.

It is scary to think someone might know some of the things we've done.  We will go to great pains to avoid being found out.  Even years after an indiscretion or a single episode using bad judgment, we can be fearful of the behavior being discovered.

Jesus' words, "I know your deeds" (Revelation 3:15), can be sobering.  The truth is Jesus not only knows our deeds, He knows our very thoughts and motives because He sees our heart.  The Revelation text today speaks of this and more.  Because Jesus knows our deeds and everything else we attempt to hide, He knows how we truly feel about Him.

The lesson I am getting from this passage is that I need to go all out for Jesus.  I need to be bold and confident and honest.  My feelings of love can't be strong one day and non-existent the next.  Either I stand with Him and everything He represents, or not.  I cannot have it both ways.  "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16)

I understand these verses, because one time I was lukewarm - but no longer. Now I understand what it means to have a personal relationship with the LORD.

Read Revelation 3:14-22 here.

Listen to Revelation 3:14-22 here.