Be still: Jesus Messiah, give me ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches today. Amen.
Read: Revelation 3:14-22
You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. (vv17-19)
Encounter: Laodicea was extremely rich – it was the centre of banking for the region, made famous clothing with the black wool of the local sheep and had a highly exclusive medical school which specialised in ophthalmology and eye treatment. It did however lack a safe water source, so instead had to bring safe drinking water from miles away. These local facts are evidenced in Jesus’ words to the church. This self-sufficient society is in reality poor, naked, blind and, like the lukewarm water flowing through it, useless in ministry.
While for vast numbers of people in our society, there remain terrible problems of inequality, many of us ‘have everything we want and don’t need a thing’ (v17). But as this passage clearly shows, like the wealthy Christians of Laodicea, we are not seeing clearly. We have material wealth and often also good health and security, but we don’t have spiritual hunger and we can therefore miss out on the real treasures of this life: partnering with Jesus in building his kingdom now and sharing in his glory in the life to come.
Apply: Like the man building storehouses for his grain year after year (Luke 12:16-21), our culture encourages us to store treasure on earth instead of heaven. But in so doing, we miss out on the glory of life with Jesus. Are you settling?
On your church, are you conforming to culture or are you radical in word and deed? Do you share a gospel of well-being and material comfort, or one of financial sacrifice, challenging purpose and incredible reward?
And are you individually and as a church standing up (in intercession, advocacy, political engagement and action) for those in society who are below the poverty line, or are you lukewarm about their position?
Devote: Lord Jesus, faithful and true witness, help me receive 'gold and garments' from you instead of from the world. Give my church eyes to see truth and a heart which welcomes you to your own kingdom – and give me courage to live radically within it.