One thing is clear from today’s reading: Jesus really cares about the Church! He is in the Church and He knows what’s going on. Look at how many times Jesus says, “I know...” in today’s passage. He knows what challenges the churches are facing from the society around them, and He also knows what’s going on in the churches -- the good and the bad.
While some of the details are a bit different here and there among the churches, the main contrast is between congregations who were faithful in teaching and practice and those who were unfaithful. Most of the congregations have a bit of both going on. Listening to Jesus’s praise and his reprimands gives us a clear idea of what Jesus wants from His people. Only two churches received only praise (Smyrna and Philadelphia). Note what they were praised for: they were poor and weak. It really is true that when we are at our weakest God is at His strongest, and we rely and depend on Him the most. That’s the secret of an effective church. Contrast that to the church in Sardis; they thought they were alive when Jesus said that they were really dead! It seems that Jesus’s ideas about success are different from ours. His message to a “successful, dead church” was to get back to the basics of the Gospel -- repent and believe (3:3).
If this passage seems a bit harsh, remember that Jesus is speaking the truth in love. His love for the Church sometimes means that He has to point out things in it that need adjustment. He points those things out because He loves the Church. And remember, the Church is made of people not bricks and mortar. So Jesus loves you, and He’s willing to go to great lengths to have a relationship with you!
Week 20 (Tuesday), Reading 97: Messages to the Churches -- Revelation 2:1--3:22
Click here for today’s reading: https://www.biblestudytools.com/revelation/2.html
One thing is clear from today’s reading: Jesus really cares about the Church! He is in the Church and He knows what’s going on. Look at how many times Jesus says, “I know...” in today’s passage. He knows what challenges the churches are facing from the society around them, and He also knows what’s going on in the churches -- the good and the bad.
While some of the details are a bit different here and there among the churches, the main contrast is between congregations who were faithful in teaching and practice and those who were unfaithful. Most of the congregations have a bit of both going on. Listening to Jesus’s praise and his reprimands gives us a clear idea of what Jesus wants from His people. Only two churches received only praise (Smyrna and Philadelphia). Note what they were praised for: they were poor and weak. It really is true that when we are at our weakest God is at His strongest, and we rely and depend on Him the most. That’s the secret of an effective church. Contrast that to the church in Sardis; they thought they were alive when Jesus said that they were really dead! It seems that Jesus’s ideas about success are different from ours. His message to a “successful, dead church” was to get back to the basics of the Gospel -- repent and believe (3:3).
If this passage seems a bit harsh, remember that Jesus is speaking the truth in love. His love for the Church sometimes means that He has to point out things in it that need adjustment. He points those things out because He loves the Church. And remember, the Church is made of people not bricks and mortar. So Jesus loves you, and He’s willing to go to great lengths to have a relationship with you!