Thoughts From the Bible

Read Revelation 3: 17- 18 - Self-sufficiency.  That is where so many people are today.  We see information being discussed that shows church attendance is down.  Fewer people are attending church in the United States and many people have never been in a church.  More people do not see a need for God.  They feel they are self-sufficient.   Jesus addressed this in verses 17 and 18, “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.” Satan has used people’s intelligence, skills, and talents to convince them they have no need for God.  The pride and arrogance people have today is also feeds into the whole idea of self-sufficiency.  Jesus is showing us ...

Read Revelation 3: 14-16 - We live in a time when people want to follow their passions.  Nothing is worth doing unless you are passionate about it.  Many people work to find a passion so they can tell people what they are passionate about.  Passions seem to be as many as there are people.  Jesus pointed out to the church in Laodicea their lack of passion, specifically, their lack of passion for Him.   “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.  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” I know I need to take a moment every day to give some quality thought to what Jesus did for me. How He loved me and what He did to redeem me.  We can let the cares and activities of life get in the way of us remembering how m...

Read Revelations 3: 7- 13 - God addressed the church at Philadelphia and He recognized an interesting thing about that group.  God addressed the fact they were not a strong group of people.  Now, I don’t know if that meant they were not a large group or if they were a small group with limited influence.   Maybe they were a group of new Christians.  Scattered throughout the world are a large number of small churches or small groups of believers. The groups are small because of limited numbers of believers, or they are small to protect themselves from others who would eliminate them if they were known.   Jesus provided a promise for them, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”   Later in Revelation Jesus will show the trial that is coming to the world, and He will protect those who are faithful. We need to know Jesus ...

Read Revelation 3: 4-6 - Jesus has given us a promise in this passage.  Those who have been strong in this life for Him and His principles, He has promised He will forever remember them.   Verse 5, “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white.  I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life but will acknowledge that name before my Father and His angels.”   We live in a time when we forget many things that are not immediately in our lives.  We will remember from time-to-time significant people in our lives, but we still forget.  Jesus has promised to never forget us.  In those days when we are not sure where we are going or what we are doing, Jesus still remembers us.  He is still there for us.   When we are not sure if we will be remembered, we need to understand Jesus will always remember us.  

Read Revelation 3: 3- There was another thought in verse 3 I know I need to make sure I never forget.   In verse 3 it says, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.  But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know what time I will come to you.” Jesus wants us focusing on His work because there is a deadline to this life.  Either we will die, or He will return and the latter stages of His plan for humanity will begin.  We need to realize the sense of urgency in the work Jesus has for us and know His plan for us is something we should not be like a can we simply kick down the road for another time. We hear about people talking about “windows of opportunity ”.  We need to realize there is a greater urgency to what Jesus has for us .  

  Read Revelation 3: 1-3 - The church at Sardis needed to be held accountable.   It appears the church at Sardis was doing work, but the work was focused on themselves rather than the real work of God.  There are many Christians who want to be busy with activities associated with the church but not necessarily the work Jesus wants to see the church doing.  I know I have been guilty of that very thing.   Jesus addresses this in the following passage, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven starts.  I know you deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.  Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.  But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will ...

Read Revelation 2: 24-29-             We have a growing number of people who don’t believe they necessarily have to attend church or have a consistent time to focus on the things of God.  They believe the simple act of believing in God is enough and working to be a “good person” is enough.  That is not enough.  The life God wants to see us living is one that requires some work on our part.  In the message Jesus sent to the church in Thyatira highlights there is a battle between heaven and earth on spiritual truths. Jesus wants us to know His message so well we can sift through teaching by those who would venture away from the message God has given us.   Verses 25 and 26 says, “ Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to hi I will give authority over the nations…”.    God’s challenge for us is to know His principles, share those principles with others and be...

Read Revelation 2: 18-23 - As Christians, we have a responsibility to listen to those who would want to lead others spiritually. Jesus is showing us in this passage we are to carefully measure any spiritual message we hear and determine how the message coincides with the message of the Bible. Jesus told the church in Thyatira, “Nevertheless, I have this against you; you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.” Jesus wants us to know His message and His Spirit so well, we do not fall and follow someone who is motivated by something other than God’s love for us. That means we have homework. We must continue to study the Bible and listen for God’s voice in our own hearts.