Saturday, August 28, 2021

But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked

Revelation 3:14-22

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich, and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.

The worst case of all seven is a church so self-satisfied as to be totally blind to its true condition. It is so far from what it should be that Jesus stands outside, knocking for admittance to the lives of individuals who call themselves Christians. This letter is full of local color. Banking and the manufacture of black woolen clothing made Laodicea affluent. The town was proud of its medical school and renowned for a special ointment for sore eyes. Laodicea's water supply was channeled from hot springs some distance away, reaching the town tepid. The church is like its water - lukewarm. There is nothing to commend it.

Why?

The church in Laodicea is located in a rich city, so people have a good feeling that they are rich. But their hearts are poor, pitiful, blind, and naked.

Neither cold nor hot, their heart to the Lord looks warm, but somehow far away. So the Lord warm them I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

They are rich, so the Lord asked them to buy from God for clothes to wear, and salve to put on eyes for their blind.

It is pitiful when Christin didn't know what he is, so be humble always.

Listen to the word of the Holy Spirit calling to us. Open the door of our hearts.

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老底嘉教會可以說是現代教會的代表,有醫藥眼藥、紡織業,有溫泉可以治病。溫泉經過老底嘉的時候是不冷不熱,也不能喝。指的是沒有任何用途、功能。即老底嘉已經失去教會存在的功能。老底嘉教會很有錢,除了有錢其他都沒有。這個城的特產是眼藥老底嘉教會卻是瞎眼的,這個城的紡織業盛行,卻是赤身裸體的。他們對神的事不關心。教會商業化,主的心意,受苦,為人捨命,愛人愛神都不見了。耶穌已經被排擠到外面了。這是對教會說的,不僅對未信主人說的。教會裏是否有耶穌?耶穌在門外扣門!在屬靈方面富足,還是在屬世的事富足。

得勝者在耶穌得榮耀時,與耶穌一同坐寶座。什麼才是真地位?

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How?

Be aware when we feel everything is comfort, but our heart is naked and poor.




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