A description of the course that explains what you will learn and how it will help you grow closer to Jesus
4 lessons
4 lessons
4 lessons
Jesus calls us to wholehearted, zealous love
Do you feel rich, comfortable, and full? Then you've got it made.
Except that in Revelation 3, Jesus unveils the true spiritual nature of the church in Laodicea (see Revelation 3:14-22). To understand this passage, we need a bit of background knowledge.
First, the water supply to this town was infamously lukewarm, so it was unpleasant for the everyday use of water, both to drink (cold water) and bathe (hot water). So the residents were tempted to spit the water right out of their mouths!
Further, the town prided itself on its wealth, derived from its banking, production of textiles, and sales of its unique eye ointment.
The Laodicean Christians claimed allegiance to Jesus, but shockingly, Jesus can describe them in the exact same terms as the town's general reputation. It's a scandal: they've compromised their faith and become like everyone else. Though they are satisfied with themselves, their spirituality is as useless as lukewarm water.
But Jesus, the faithful and true witness, loves this church too much to leave them as they really are: wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Instead of celebrating wealth, power, and self-sufficiency, they are to treasure what Jesus can give them: pure hearts, freedom from idolatry, and spiritual discernment.
It's necessary that the church repent of their sins and demonstrate a zeal to obey Jesus. If they want to share a meal with Jesus, if they want to be his friends, then they must reject the values of their hometown and adopt the values of God's kingdom.
But if they don't want the gifts that Jesus offers, they will be held to their own standard. Just as they reject the lukewarm water that flows into their town, so God will spit them out for failing to overcome the temptations of this world and follow the true King of Kings.
At Advent we remember that Jesus has come, and we anticipate that he will come again. When he returns, will he find that we are still listening to the voice of his Spirit?
Revelation 3:20
See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
In what ways do our lifestyles resemble everyone else's?
What about our lives shows a distinctive loyalty to the kingdom of God?
What's one way we could repent of our self-sufficiency? How would that free up resources so we could demonstrate our love for God and our neighbors?
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