'Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.” ' v. 8
"Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh
Adonai, Elohim Tzevaoth
Asher hayah V'hoveh v'yavo" (hebrew)
Ought we not to do the same, and live lives of worship?
Revelation 3:7-22 - Held Up and Held Close
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| In a Times Square, NY subway station |
Have you ever pictured Jesus as a graffiti artist? I was surfing the 'net images of pillars painted with street art and the work is amazing. Then I came across the one above. Nothing like the spray can Picassos that surely must have taken days to produce. This artist was done in about 37 seconds. And unlike the other municipal masterpieces, this one got me thinking about the Lord and Revelation. Today's verses include the last two letters Jesus dictated to John, one for the church at Philadelphia and one for the folks at Laodicea. I think we can use the pillar motif to tie the two together.
The Philadelphian letter is unique among the seven, because Jesus doesn't identify any sin in this church. He says that they have "little strength" and probably this means strength of numbers or of social influence. These would not be moral or spiritual shortcomings, so this church stands alone as the one Christ does not have to rebuke. They have actually shown their strength of character in persevering in the faith. Jesus says He will make their enemies bow down to them (Jesus is going to flex HIS strength on their behalf!) and make the enemy acknowledge that God loves the Philadelphians. If this little church continues to overcome and hold up under trial, Jesus is going to install them as pillars in the eternal temple of God! And He will write on them. I wonder if He will use spray paint, or a Sharpie marker? Maybe they'll look like the pillar at the Times Square train station.
The Laodicean letter stands in stark contrast to the former. Jesus rebukes them; calls them to repent. He attempts to shake them out of their blindness, their denial. "you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" "I am about to spit you out of my mouth" Whoa! Jesus means business. How did this community of believers get so far from what they ought to be. Yes - FAR is the answer. Jesus calls them lukewarm. The city of Laodicea was famous for a lot of cool stuff, but they were also known for their lousy water. It was famously lukewarm. The pillars of Laodicea were the ones that held up the aqueduct, and man was that ever a long aqueduct. By the time the water ran down from a remote southern source, it was wretched. Nauseating.
Being far from the source is the key to comprehension here. The Laodiceans had gotten into their self-deceived, adverse position with Christ because they had wandered off. They were far from intimate with their God. They did not hold Him near. Perhaps they would hold up under His discipline. It was a loving discipline. "I'm knocking at your door. Let Me in and we'll dine together!" "If you'll repent and overcome, I'll sit you on my throne beside Me."
Are you of little 'strength' in this world, but mighty in Christian character? Then you are a pillar of the Lord. Are you self-sufficient, self-satisfied and so, have wandered away from God? Pride and possessions can insulate us from intimacy with Him if we're not careful.
One appeared weak, but they were wonderful. The other appeared powerful, but they were pitiful. Christ saw them aright, and named them accurately. I think I'll let Jesus label me; with Krylon, Sharpie, whatever ...
Pray: Hold me up and hold me close, Lord. I don't want to get discouraged in the fight of faith, and I don't want to get self-deceived that I'm all that in You. help me to estimate myself accurately. I want to be an overcomer.
Revelation 2:18-3:6 - How Wide are Your Tolerances?
Remember the 1993 Nissan Altima commercial with the ball bearing? The announcer says that Nissan got the idea from Lexus engineers, who used a ball bearing to test the tight tolerances of their craftsmanship. Careful, high quality manufacturing allows for tighter fitting parts and narrower openings between sections like doors and frames, and hoods and fenders. Yes, in some cases it's good for tolerances to be narrow.
Stan Gaede wrote the book, "When Tolerance is No Virtue," and describes how the idea of tolerance as a virtue is really an unfinished thought. To say that someone is tolerant is much like saying that someone is "very." Very what? you ask. "Exactly," Dr. Gaede would reply. Tolerance must also have a modifier. Tolerant of what? With a little exploration we can quickly see that some things can be tolerated and others can not. It's OK to crate my dog overnight. It's not OK to leave him there for days. The one is comforting; the other is cruel.
Today's text in Revelation contains two more of the letters Jesus dictated to John. Both letters appear to have an inappropriate tolerance at their center. In the letter to Thyatira, the church is told not to tolerate a self-proclaimed prophetess nicknamed "Jezebel." She is teaching in a way that is leading people into idolatry and sexual immorality. These are clearly anti-Christian and should not be tolerated.
The letter to the church at Sardis identifies a more subtle tolerance. There, the congregation was tolerating unfinished ministry. On the surface they looked like a fine, upstanding church - alive. But Jesus sees beneath the facade - 'you're dead.' The call to fight the good fight, and keep the faith, and finish the race - that's the call they have fallen asleep on. "Wake up!" Jesus cries. He says that those who have succumbed to carelessness have "soiled their clothes." It is sin both to do the wrong thing, as in Thyatira, and to not do the right thing, as in Sardis.
So, break out the ball bearing on a regular basis. Test your tolerances. Are you permitting something in your life that ought not to be there? What sort of sin is sliding through the wider cracks of our overly tolerant consciences? Tolerance is a virtue only when it permits that which is edifying and prevents that which is destructive. And the micrometer for that is the righteous character of Christ. Let's see if we can re-calibrate and engineer lives that are truly Christian.
Pray: Jesus, this same John to whom you dictated the seven letters is the one who described you as "full of grace and truth." Help me to be like that; like You. Help me with grace to tolerate the unfinished nature of my self, my neighbors and the world. And with truth, assist me to stay narrow and focused on what is right and good, intolerant of sin in all its forms.
Stan Gaede wrote the book, "When Tolerance is No Virtue," and describes how the idea of tolerance as a virtue is really an unfinished thought. To say that someone is tolerant is much like saying that someone is "very." Very what? you ask. "Exactly," Dr. Gaede would reply. Tolerance must also have a modifier. Tolerant of what? With a little exploration we can quickly see that some things can be tolerated and others can not. It's OK to crate my dog overnight. It's not OK to leave him there for days. The one is comforting; the other is cruel.
Today's text in Revelation contains two more of the letters Jesus dictated to John. Both letters appear to have an inappropriate tolerance at their center. In the letter to Thyatira, the church is told not to tolerate a self-proclaimed prophetess nicknamed "Jezebel." She is teaching in a way that is leading people into idolatry and sexual immorality. These are clearly anti-Christian and should not be tolerated.
The letter to the church at Sardis identifies a more subtle tolerance. There, the congregation was tolerating unfinished ministry. On the surface they looked like a fine, upstanding church - alive. But Jesus sees beneath the facade - 'you're dead.' The call to fight the good fight, and keep the faith, and finish the race - that's the call they have fallen asleep on. "Wake up!" Jesus cries. He says that those who have succumbed to carelessness have "soiled their clothes." It is sin both to do the wrong thing, as in Thyatira, and to not do the right thing, as in Sardis.
So, break out the ball bearing on a regular basis. Test your tolerances. Are you permitting something in your life that ought not to be there? What sort of sin is sliding through the wider cracks of our overly tolerant consciences? Tolerance is a virtue only when it permits that which is edifying and prevents that which is destructive. And the micrometer for that is the righteous character of Christ. Let's see if we can re-calibrate and engineer lives that are truly Christian.
Pray: Jesus, this same John to whom you dictated the seven letters is the one who described you as "full of grace and truth." Help me to be like that; like You. Help me with grace to tolerate the unfinished nature of my self, my neighbors and the world. And with truth, assist me to stay narrow and focused on what is right and good, intolerant of sin in all its forms.
Revelation 2:1-17 - Got Your Ears On?
I have to thank the CB radio craze of the mid '70s for helping me to do what few married men are able to do. After 32 years of marriage I still have not forgotten the date I asked Sandie to marry me. That's right, guys, I am not talking about remembering the wedding anniversary (which, even that, some husbands have difficulty recalling.) I'm talkin' engagement anniversary; popping-the-question anniversary! On October 4th, 1977 at the Liberty Diner on Middle Country Road, I asked, ring in hand, "Will you marry me?" And she said, "Yes, I will." So what do CB radios have to do with this? October 4th is also 10-4, which is the CB code for 'OK, message received.' She got my message and I got hers; that was a big 10-4, good buddy!
I think Jesus would have enjoyed citizen's band radio. At the end of each of the seven letters he dictated in the book of Revelation, he states, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying ..." Sounds much like, "Got your ears on?" CB slang for 'are you on the air and listening?' Since the word for Spirit in both Hebrew and Greek is "breath, wind or air," it all seems to fit together. So let's get our ears on; let's listen and hear what the Air of God is broadcasting.
Separate blog entries could be written about each of the letters to the seven churches, but there are three such letters in today's One Year Bible passage. Let's compare them and see what they have in common:
1 Each one is written to the "angel" of the church, or "messenger" of the church. That would be the preacher, the one who brings the message from the Lord. God speaks through the leader to engage the whole group. This also makes the leader accountable.
2 Each one has a special description of Jesus, the author of the letter - "These are the words of Him who ..." Watch how the unique description fits in with the thrust of the body of the letter.
3 Each one reveals that Jesus is familiar with the churches and their circumstances. "I know ..."
4 Each letter has an imperative from the Lord - "Repent; Be faithful; Repent."
5 Each one has a call to focus on the message - "Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Implicit is the encouragement to take what they hear seriously and act upon it.
6 Each one has a reward offered for persevering to the end - "To the one who is victorious," or "To the one who overcomes ..."
There are more CB 10-codes than just 10-4. Jesus would have used them here with His seven letters. 10-44: I have a message for you. 10-17: Urgent business! 10-67: All units comply. Then in the end, He could tx a big 10-99: Mission completed, all units secure.
Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for being a God who communicates. May your Spirit in me continue to speak to my soul and guide my thoughts, delivering wisdom just when I need it. Keep reminding me of who you are, and what you know, what I need to do, and what I can hope to receive.
I think Jesus would have enjoyed citizen's band radio. At the end of each of the seven letters he dictated in the book of Revelation, he states, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying ..." Sounds much like, "Got your ears on?" CB slang for 'are you on the air and listening?' Since the word for Spirit in both Hebrew and Greek is "breath, wind or air," it all seems to fit together. So let's get our ears on; let's listen and hear what the Air of God is broadcasting.
Separate blog entries could be written about each of the letters to the seven churches, but there are three such letters in today's One Year Bible passage. Let's compare them and see what they have in common:
1 Each one is written to the "angel" of the church, or "messenger" of the church. That would be the preacher, the one who brings the message from the Lord. God speaks through the leader to engage the whole group. This also makes the leader accountable.
2 Each one has a special description of Jesus, the author of the letter - "These are the words of Him who ..." Watch how the unique description fits in with the thrust of the body of the letter.
3 Each one reveals that Jesus is familiar with the churches and their circumstances. "I know ..."
4 Each letter has an imperative from the Lord - "Repent; Be faithful; Repent."
5 Each one has a call to focus on the message - "Whoever has ears let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Implicit is the encouragement to take what they hear seriously and act upon it.
6 Each one has a reward offered for persevering to the end - "To the one who is victorious," or "To the one who overcomes ..."
There are more CB 10-codes than just 10-4. Jesus would have used them here with His seven letters. 10-44: I have a message for you. 10-17: Urgent business! 10-67: All units comply. Then in the end, He could tx a big 10-99: Mission completed, all units secure.
Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for being a God who communicates. May your Spirit in me continue to speak to my soul and guide my thoughts, delivering wisdom just when I need it. Keep reminding me of who you are, and what you know, what I need to do, and what I can hope to receive.
Revelation 1:1-20 - Don't Miss the Forest for the Trees
A journey into the book of Revelation can transform us all into those suddenly befuddled seniors who stop short and ask themselves, "Why did I come in here?" It is so easy to get caught up in the details, and the symbolism, the fantastic imagery and the speculations about meanings and timetables and historical parallels, that we lose sight of what the book is actually intending to communicate. We forget that the title of the book is 'Revelation,' which means an unveiling, a making plain, a throwing back of the curtains, showing us what's really going on. So let's just look at the words and absorb what they are revealing to us, and not plunge headlong into trying to unpack the mystery hidden in a riddle wrapped in an enigma.
"The revelation from Jesus Christ, ... that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads ... blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it ..."
"Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins
by His blood,
and has made us to be a kingdom
and priests to serve his God and Father-
to Him be glory and power for ever and ever!"
"... with a golden sash around
His chest. The hair on
His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and
His eyes were like blazing fire.
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and
His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In
His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of
His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance...
He placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!"
Just let that wash over you.
Jesus is being revealed.
Look at Him. LOOK at Him!
Behold.
Your God.
"The revelation from Jesus Christ, ... that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads ... blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it ..."
"Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead,
and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins
by His blood,
and has made us to be a kingdom
and priests to serve his God and Father-
to Him be glory and power for ever and ever!"
"... with a golden sash around
His chest. The hair on
His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and
His eyes were like blazing fire.
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and
His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In
His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of
His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance...
He placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!"
Just let that wash over you.
Jesus is being revealed.
Look at Him. LOOK at Him!
Behold.
Your God.
Jude 1-25 - The Perverse and The Persevering
Descriptives according to Saint Jude --
Aspects of The Perverse: (vss. 4,7)
Are among the church; even leaders in the church
Deny Jesus' sovereignty and Lordship over them
Twist God's grace into a license for immorality
Are strongly motivated by their ungodly imagination
Reject authority and pollute their bodies
Slander the spiritual realm even though they don't understand it
Do understand their animal instincts
Lash out at the rebuke of God rather than learn and change
Pursue influence among God's people for financial gain
Are jealous of God's leaders and resist following them
Are self-absorbed, without blessing, dead in sin
Uncontrollable, shameful, lost
Are grumblers, faultfinders, scoffers, braggarts and flatterers
Pursue their evil desires
Aspects of The Persevering: (v. 21)
Are God's holy people; called, loved and kept
Defend Biblical doctrine
Build each other up in a faith that features holiness
Pray in the presence and with the help of the Holy Spirit
Center their lives on loving as God loved
Anticipate Christ's mercy will bring them eternal life
Are merciful to unbelievers
Take action to share Christ with at-risk people
Are careful and discerning when engaging the ungodly
Find their greatest joy in Him ...
"... who is able to keep [them]from stumbling and to present [them]before His glorious presence without fault"
And they ascribe glory, majesty, power and authority to the only God, their Savior through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Aspects of The Perverse: (vss. 4,7)
Are among the church; even leaders in the church
Deny Jesus' sovereignty and Lordship over them
Twist God's grace into a license for immorality
Are strongly motivated by their ungodly imagination
Reject authority and pollute their bodies
Slander the spiritual realm even though they don't understand it
Do understand their animal instincts
Lash out at the rebuke of God rather than learn and change
Pursue influence among God's people for financial gain
Are jealous of God's leaders and resist following them
Are self-absorbed, without blessing, dead in sin
Uncontrollable, shameful, lost
Are grumblers, faultfinders, scoffers, braggarts and flatterers
Pursue their evil desires
Aspects of The Persevering: (v. 21)
Are God's holy people; called, loved and kept
Defend Biblical doctrine
Build each other up in a faith that features holiness
Pray in the presence and with the help of the Holy Spirit
Center their lives on loving as God loved
Anticipate Christ's mercy will bring them eternal life
Are merciful to unbelievers
Take action to share Christ with at-risk people
Are careful and discerning when engaging the ungodly
Find their greatest joy in Him ...
"... who is able to keep [them]from stumbling and to present [them]before His glorious presence without fault"
And they ascribe glory, majesty, power and authority to the only God, their Savior through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus, in whom there is no perversion, will persevere in His glory, majesty, power and authority forevermore!
Amen?
3 John 1-14 - A Reputation You Can Write Home About
"Dear Santa, ..."
Don't you love to read the little notes kids write to Santa? They've heard the song; they know that "he knows if you've been bad or good," so they usually like to tell him JUST how good they've been. You have to establish a reputation that Santa will approve of if you're going to get what's on your wish list.
But then kids grow up and they grow out of Santa Claus. They trade the philosophy of "be good for goodness sake" for the philosophy of other songs - frequently the philosophy of Billy Joel's 'My Life.' "Either way, it's OK; you wake up with yourself." The only person your reputation should matter to is you. If you can live with yourself, who cares what anybody else thinks.
The problem is that the "he sees you ... he knows you" lyrics were ascribed in error to Santa Claus. God is the one those lyrics apply to. He does, in fact, see you all the time and is intimately aware of your goodness or lack thereof. Your reputation does matter to Him. And in the end, it's not whether you can look yourself in the mirror and feel self-satisfied, it's whether God can look at you and exclaim, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Three followers of Christ are mentioned by name in the brief Third Epistle of John - Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Each one had established a reputation for themselves. John is an elder of the Christian community at this point and sees the members of Christ's body, the church, as his children. And so he writes, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." This is the joy desired by tens of thousands of Christian parents and elders of the church. This is the joy of the Lord Himself. We ought to bless our God with the reputation we are building for walking in the truth.
Gaius has a good reputation; he is faithful and persevering in the truth. His love and hospitality for fellow Christians, though strangers to him at first, is commendable.
Diotrephes, on the other hand, has some work to do. Although a leader in the church, he is self-aggrandizing, a gossip and a liar, and a careless tyrant. John says he is going to call him on it when he gets there. Even so, God is definitely going to call him on it.
Demetrius has a much better reputation than that. He is spoken well of by everyone, which in one sense might only speak to his popularity. But John says "the truth" speaks well of him also. I take this to mean that his way of life is consistent with God's truth. He measures up well next to the measuring rod of the Word as well as the measure of popular opinion.
How's your reputation? Make it good. Not for goodness' sake; but for the Name's sake (v. 7). That is, for the sake of God's reputation in the world.
Oh, yes. Our reputation is inextricably linked to His.
Pray: As your follower, help me Lord to be keenly aware that my reputation reflects on Your reputation. I represent You, your Name and Your family in the world. Help me always to honor you and make Your reputation great. Then mine will take care of itself.
Don't you love to read the little notes kids write to Santa? They've heard the song; they know that "he knows if you've been bad or good," so they usually like to tell him JUST how good they've been. You have to establish a reputation that Santa will approve of if you're going to get what's on your wish list.
But then kids grow up and they grow out of Santa Claus. They trade the philosophy of "be good for goodness sake" for the philosophy of other songs - frequently the philosophy of Billy Joel's 'My Life.' "Either way, it's OK; you wake up with yourself." The only person your reputation should matter to is you. If you can live with yourself, who cares what anybody else thinks.
The problem is that the "he sees you ... he knows you" lyrics were ascribed in error to Santa Claus. God is the one those lyrics apply to. He does, in fact, see you all the time and is intimately aware of your goodness or lack thereof. Your reputation does matter to Him. And in the end, it's not whether you can look yourself in the mirror and feel self-satisfied, it's whether God can look at you and exclaim, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Three followers of Christ are mentioned by name in the brief Third Epistle of John - Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Each one had established a reputation for themselves. John is an elder of the Christian community at this point and sees the members of Christ's body, the church, as his children. And so he writes, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." This is the joy desired by tens of thousands of Christian parents and elders of the church. This is the joy of the Lord Himself. We ought to bless our God with the reputation we are building for walking in the truth.
Gaius has a good reputation; he is faithful and persevering in the truth. His love and hospitality for fellow Christians, though strangers to him at first, is commendable.
Diotrephes, on the other hand, has some work to do. Although a leader in the church, he is self-aggrandizing, a gossip and a liar, and a careless tyrant. John says he is going to call him on it when he gets there. Even so, God is definitely going to call him on it.
Demetrius has a much better reputation than that. He is spoken well of by everyone, which in one sense might only speak to his popularity. But John says "the truth" speaks well of him also. I take this to mean that his way of life is consistent with God's truth. He measures up well next to the measuring rod of the Word as well as the measure of popular opinion.
How's your reputation? Make it good. Not for goodness' sake; but for the Name's sake (v. 7). That is, for the sake of God's reputation in the world.
Oh, yes. Our reputation is inextricably linked to His.
Pray: As your follower, help me Lord to be keenly aware that my reputation reflects on Your reputation. I represent You, your Name and Your family in the world. Help me always to honor you and make Your reputation great. Then mine will take care of itself.
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