Small Group Devo

Intro

I was also struck by my reading in this last season. As I was striving to finish my own reading plan, I came to the book of the Revelation of John.

As I started Revelation my own thoughts slowed down and my heart was being stirred with affection for God’s word.

You see, The Revelation holds a special place in my life as I spent a month in turkey and greece studying it with my whole being. I remember getting rocked by the images and the tangible ruins of the churches to which John wrote.

And so when I came to Revelation, I was stirred to read it aloud as the intro invites the reader to.

One moment portion of particular interest to me was Jesus’ warning to the church Laodicea. I remember being in the tri-cities of the Rebelation by heiropilos, colossae and Laodicea. And as I read the warning became all the more real. and I wanted to read it for us here.

So, if you have your bible would you turn to

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, 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. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Context:

No we have oft interpreted this as either being for Jesus or against him. I.e. being Hot or Cold. But this is not the intended meaning.

In ancient times due to a lack of technologies like refrigeration etc. hot water and cold water was hard to come by and so the ancients revered hot and cold water as VERY USEFUL.

Leon Morris states this in his commentary on the book:

The deeds of this church are summed up in the accusation you are neither cold nor hot. The imagery may be derived from the water-supply of the city which appears to have been drawn from hot springs at some distance, so that it arrived at the city lukewarm. This forms a contrast with the hot springs at nearby Hierapolis and the cold, refreshing water at Colosse. ‘Hot water heals, cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water is useless for either purpose, and can serve only as an emetic.’

Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 84.

And so we see that it was Jesus disgust with christians who are given the Amen (the truth) as he calls himself and do nothing with him. They are neither healing nor are they refreshing their fellow man.

The laodicieans were warped by their culture and chasing after idols. They were in danger of syncretism. The affluent world they lived in was forming their deisres away from God and it was showing up in thier lack of care for others.

Their blessings of wealth and prosperity had become their hearts desire. Their, quite literal, materialism had tempted thier hearts to love the gift and not the giver.

Revelation 3:17–19 ESV

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

A Warning

This warning is IMPORTANT for us today.

I have seen this in my own life. When what I can and can’t afford becomes the thing on which my mind dwells I have started slipping down the slope. My affections start turning to prominance and prosperity and away from others, away from the greatest gift. away from Christ.

It wasn’t too late for the Laodiceans and it isn’t too late for you and for me. Listen to what Christ says,

Revelation 3:20–22 ESV

Behold, 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. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Although it is sometimes hard to for us to believe it is whatever we do to the least that we do to Christ. Christ is speaking yes metaphorically, I knock on the door that I may come in and you may know me and I know you. But he is also saying, I am all around you in the faces of others. And how you treat them is how you treat me.

Matthew 25:40–45 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Listen to what Bonhoeffer wrote in a sermon he gave for Christmas one year:

Jesus stands at the door knocking (Rev. 3:20). In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. That is the great seriousness and great blessedness of the Advent message. Christ is standing at the door; he lives in the form of a human being among us. Do you want to close the door or open it?

In this season of Advent we wait. We wait for Jesus to come again, and we wait with eagerness. Not as the laodiceans did, we must not get caught up with the materailsim that is all around us. We must not forget to see the Imago Dei in the stranger walking by or store clerk. We must love those as we love Christ. As we wait, we ought to be a people of healing for others and a people of refreshing for others.

And all of this is only possible because of the Spirit of God living within us.

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.