This passed Sunday we started a new series at church. It is called “7 Letters to 7 Churches” and will examine the letters contained in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. They are powerful words to those churches, but they are also relevant to our situation and the churches that we are part of today.
There is one thing that stuck out to me greatly that was the foundation of the introductory message on Sunday. I do want to remind you that Revelation sits at the end of our Bible as a book or letter given to those who choose to follow Jesus. It is for us. Here is what got me stuck working through this passage and excited about it:
Revelation 1:9-12 NLT
I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.
John is the person writing and sharing the story. He had been put on an island because he was preaching and telling everyone about Jesus. The authorities thought they could cut him off and shut him up. That didn’t happen.
Jesus showed up. Even when John was alone he worshipped and experienced Jesus. It was a moving experience that continues to speak to us today.
Jesus was in the middle of where John looked up when he heard a voice. This was an encounter that continued John’s walk of faith and ours.
Right in the middle of all that was going on when John was alone was Jesus. The picture of the 7 churches shown by the lampstands had Jesus in the middle. The light on the lampstands reminds us that Jesus is the light from God, light of the world and the light we share.
Literally Jesus is in the middle. He must be in the middle of our lives and our work and our church. Is that true? Is that where Jesus is in your life?
Comments