Title: Warnings and Commendation/ Topic: Heeding Rebuke

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 4; Ezekiel 5; Ezekiel 6; Ezekiel 7; Revelation 3

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-3; 8,9; 15-19
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.

I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

Observation: The words of Jesus to three churches are recorded here. The comparison of the three is interesting to me. The first and third get strong rebukes from Jesus and the issues seem to be similar. To the first He says, "Wake up!" and tells them their deeds (actions) are incomplete. Their deeds seem to give the people in the church the feeling that they are alive spiritually, but Jesus disagrees. They are asleep and spiritually lethargic. The third church is also complacent and dispassionate, yet they think they are just fine and don't have any need. The second church is commended by Jesus even though they "have little strength". They have endured hardship but apparently they have kept a strong love of the Lord even though their strength isn't strong. What's interesting to me is that Jesus doesn't tell them they need to get stronger, He just tells them to hang on to what they have and are promised great things.

Application: I must guard my heart against complacency --- God obviously hates it. It seems that he doesn't mind weakness. He is much more concerned about my passion than my strength. He is more concerned abvout my character than he is about my accomplishments, such as how many material blessings I've accumulated. I also must realize that I have a propensity toward spiritual blindness. Both the first and third churches thought they were doing fine. I need to be open to correction from human authority that God places in my life as well as to the rebukes of the Holy Spirit. If I do this I will keep myself under God's protection and safe in His arms.

Prayer: Father, let me see myself as You see me. Let no unclean thing remain covered in my life. I want to live in the light and to keep my passion for You alive.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.