learning from Laodicea

We finished our series on the 7 churches of Revelation yesterday at The Community Fellowship. This has been a good series and eye opening for me.

There were a few verses in the letter to the church at Laodicea that I want to draw your attention to. Check these out and lets see what God has to say to each of us.

Revelation 3:20 NLT

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

That is great verse to know that God is pursuing us. We use it to help people know that salvation comes only from Jesus. But this letter to Laodicea was written to believers.

This church had pushed Jesus away, and He invites the people and the church to come back to Him. The last part speaks of the evening meal where they not only shared food but spent time talking and building their relationship.

God wants to spend time with us. That is an invitation and is important for each of us.

Revelation 3:17-18 NLT

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. 18 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.

Laodicea was known for being a strong financial center, a place of manufacturing fine clothing and even where medical care and medicine were plenteous.

So why did the letter say they were poor, naked and needed medical? It is because they did not recognize their need for God. It is easy to get conceded and think we don’t need anyone else.

The fact is we must let God in and spend as much time with Him as we can. Lean on His resources. The church at Laodicea lost its thought of what is valuable, what virtues matter and vision for what is ahead.

This letter is for the church today as well as the church back then.

May we learn what really matters. May we value what God values and spend time with Him.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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