Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 27
Monday


GOD'S HEART
REVEALED

READ:
Revelation 3:14-22
__________________________________________

As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten.
Therefore be zealous
and repent.
__Revelation 3:19
__________________________________________

It's easy to think of God as a divine fly-swatter, just waiting for you to land so that-whap-He can nail you for your sins. But that's not what we see in Revelation 2-3 in His letters to the seven churches. The pattern of the letters demonstrates God's loving heart for wayward people.

Jesus began many of these letters by affirming the good things His people had done. This shows us that when we do what is good and right, the Lord is pleased.

But Jesus is also concerned about the faults in our lives. His commendation in these letters was often followed by clear words of reproof. And while it's not comfortable to hear Him say, "Nevertheless I have this against you" (2:4; see vv.14,20), He reveals what needs to be changed in our lives to keep us from self-deceit.

This moves us to the real heart of the matter--repentance. When the Lord told these churches to repent, he was revealing His love for wayward saints. His goal was not to condemn but to restore them to intimate fellowship with Him.

And don't miss the fact that each letter ends with a specific promise for the "overcomers." Clearly God desires to reward those who live lives that are pleasing to Him.

What's He saying to you today? __Jow stowell
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``````````````````````To live a life that pleases Christ.````````````
```````````````````````It's crucial to obey His voice:``````````````
``````````````````````When He reveals our sin to us,`````````````
````````````````````Repentance is the wisest choice. __Sper```````
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Repentance restores and renews
our intimacy with the Lord.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Revelation 3:14-22********

14 and to the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans
write.

"These things says the
Amen, the Faithful and
True Witness, the
Beginning of the creation of
God: 15 'I know your works,
that you are neither cold
nor hot. I could wish you
were cold or hot. 16 So then,
because you are lukewarm.
and neither cold nor hot, I
will vomit you out of My
mouth. 17 Because you say,
"I am rich, have become
wealthy, and have need of
nothing" __and do not know
that you are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind, and
naked__ 18 I counsel you to
buy from Me gold refined
in the fire, that you may be
rich; and white garments,
that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your
nakedness may not be
revealed; and anoint your
eyes with eye salve, that
you may see.
19 'As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten.
Therefore be zealous and
repent. 20 Behold, I stand at
the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come
in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me.

21 'To him who overcomes
I will grant to sit with me
on My throne, and I also
overcame and sat down
with My Father on His
throne. 22 He who has an
ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the
churches.'"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Besides the letter that John wrote (Rev. 1:11), which was circulated
among the seven churches, Colossians 4:16 mentions two other
circular letters that had been sent to the Laodicean Christians
(3:14)__Paul's epistle to the Colossians and a letter which some
scholars believe is Paul's epistle to the Ephesians. Apparently, Paul
also cared greatly for these Laodicean believers. __SIM KAY TEE