14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 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. 18 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 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.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
I see the Faithful and True One seeing the real me/the real church. The “bit too satisfied” me. The Faithful One says I am lukewarm, more empty and impotent than I know. I hear an invitation though I am broke, blind and naked to buy – to buy gold! I hear knocking. I hear a challenge to think differently – repent – with a promise of victorious power to those who really hear.
I get the message. I repent, again. Every time I let You close, my blindness is lifted, I see Your gold. I stop the hurry today, again. I invite you in. I take time right now, to have time with the Faithful and True One. Take my brokenness, bring me gold refined in the fire, your food, a place with the Father.
Art Barrett, Pastor
New Life Christian Fellowship – Concord
19 “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” I feel so loved! Its been an intense year of stretching, and the growing pains have been pretty severe at times, but I know the result will be glorious. Still asking for “salve to put on (my)eyes, so (I)can see” more clearly.
Today I will continue to listen with ears willing, wanting, waiting to hear.
“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.” I know that this gold is available to be. That I can be rich. So that I dont have to be ashamed for my sins are forgiven. so that my eyes can be revealed to the truth. Oh thank you oh gracious and mighty GOD. For loving me so much and allowing me to repent and be new in YOU. Today I will walk knowing that you do love me and with that comes discipline. I will be more obedient will start by coming to church early =)
cool! see you there 🙂
I am so thankful, as you said so beautifully Pastor Art, that His arms are always open for me to repent, be renewed, strengthened and LOVED.
Lord, I do not want to be lukewarm. Help me set things right that are still amiss in my life or displeasing to you. Today I will listen for the knock. Help me to open the door and follow through on the words you will say.