Verse of the Day 12/16

Through the Bible - Obadiah - Jonah 3, Revelation 9

Good morning,
For today's verse we'll move into Revelation 3 and take a look at what Jesus has to say to the church in Sardis, noted as "the dead church".

Have you ever gone through a time in your life when you were in the "doldrums", the same old routine day after day, not much seems to change and there just doesn't seem to be any "spark" in your life? Or have you ever had to drive across the state, after eating lunch, the road is familiar and it takes almost all you have to try to stay awake.

These times can come upon us at any time in life, at school, work, at home, or in retirement.

This type of feeling, can become an attitude. The attitude is not limited to individuals, it can affect and even take over groups, organizations, and yes, even churches.

What we need is someone in our life to shout "wake up people", and I'm not talking about Pepsi Max.

That's exactly what Jesus had to say to this church as we see in today's verse.

Rev 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, 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 come to you. NIV

Barclay comments that a church "is in danger of death when it begins to worship it's own past.... when it is more concerned with forms than with life... when it loves systems more than it loves Jesus Christ, .... when it is more concerned with material than spiritual things."

Sadly, many of us, at least some point in our spiritual journey can relate to this, perhaps even now.

What does Jesus tell us? To look back, yes, but not to glory in the past, but remember what brought us, what brought the church life. Remember the way, the truth, the life that is in Jesus. The he challenges them to go back and do those things. If not, even what they have will be taken.

If you find yourself in such a place in your life in you home or in your church, turn back. Pray for restoration and desire not only to be blessed but to be a blessing.

Let's close by looking at what God had to say to Abram, way back in Genesis.

Gen 12:2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you." NIV


If you remember the old hymn, "Make Me a Blessing" why don't you sing it in your heart, pray it to God, and act it out in your life. I don't think that you or those around you will remain in the "doldrums". Notice where the song starts.

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,
many are weary and sad;
are weary and sad
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
making the sorrowing glad.
Refrain:
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life
out of my life
May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,
I pray Thee, my Savior,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

3:1 "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 stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, 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 come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. NIV