Saturday January 23, 2021

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.“

Revelation 3:14b-15

Reflection: Faith for Jesus must be fervent faith. His letter to Laodicea describes a Church that is spiritually stagnant, unpleasantly lukewarm. Because it has cooled in its zeal towards Christ, it has become useless to Him. Laodicea was a wealthy city and commercial center. Its renowned wealth kept it completely independent from help or outside resources. The tragedy with the Church in Laodicea was that its affluence and prosperity caused them to forget their need for Christ. As they relished in luxury, they began to neglect their Lord. To this Church, Jesus warns that they have become blinded to their disastrous spiritual condition. For the physically wealthy were now spiritually wretched and pitiful. The financially rich were really poor. The people in want for nothing were really shamefully naked and too blind to see their needs. The Laodiceans had made themselves too content with the world’s riches to desire true spiritual wealth. They remained only partially to God while entertaining the pleasures of the world.

Jesus the Amen, the One Who confirms His Truth and Righteousness, commands the Laodiceans to make a decision either for Him or against Him. He tells them to choose to be spiritually hot or cold. He calls them to exchange their treasures to buy refined gold, to seek Him for white clothes of purity and holiness and salve to see with eyes of faith. He stands on the outside to be welcomed in for eternal fellowship. But to receive these blessings, the Laodiceans must invest in the Lord completely. This is the same for us. Faith is not faith if it is partial. Faith is only authentic if it is complete. As He speaks to the Laodiceans, Jesus also commands us to choose to be hot or cold towards Him.

Prayer: Loving God, You are the Great Amen, the One Who is ever True. I give You praise for Your Sovereignty. I give You praise for Your Mercy which reminds me to live a life that chooses You. For I know that life in its fullness can be known only in Your Presence. As I continue to seek after You, please fill my heart with a burning desire to glorify You. Direct me in ways everlasting. I pray all of these things in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Revelation 3; Nehemiah 4; Psalm 98