To the Church in Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22 1. This is the only Church that Christ said NOTHING good about .. it almost gives me a reason to believe they were not REALLY converted to Christianity ... the rest of the passage sort of bears this out. Laodicea was a great commercial city. I WAS the WEALTHIEST city in the world at this time!! In fact, they were so wealthy that Christ says .. "you have need of nothing" ... but that was a broad statement ... they the assembly at Laodicea had NEED of NOTHING according to them ... inside or out!! They were proud of the garments they made there: violet wool garments were their specialty .. but Christ quickly says ... YOU ARE NAKED!! To be naked was the most humiliating thing in that day (and today in most circles) ... and Christ then asks them to REPENT. It was a great medical center too .. known all over the known world for their effective EYE salve ... Christ tells them they were naked and wretched and blind (seems to mean they were not really believers in Christ but rather thought it popular to profess to be Christian .. ) Points of interest: Christ was "coming to them" - note Christianity is the only religion that God goes out of his way to go to humanity - to each individual - personally!!! He said .. I can give you eyesalve so that you may SEE ... truth and life and liberty! He says I am the Amen! Amen: means to be true and authentic as well as YOUR CREATOR.. not fake or unreal. So He introduced Himself .. Christ said: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot .. therefore being lukewarm I will spit you out of my mouth" Like cold coffee? I don't!! How about warm ice cream .. ? I don't .. Near Laodicea there were hot springs with hot public baths ... and when they overflowed ... the lukewarm smell was nauseating !!! They could identify with Christ's words .. if you are "lukewarm" I will spit you out of my mouth. Being lukewarm .... they were INDIFFERENT ... not really caring ... they were content by calling themselves Christians ... but wasn't interested in "bearing their cross" or developing or conforming to the image of Christ .. Christianity was really meaningless to them. So Christ said you can buy of me "gold tried in fire" (Faith 1Peter 1:7 "7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" He said I will give you FAITH that is more precious than any of the wealth of the world ... Christ very tenderly says "I rebuke who I love" and "chasten". Christ then says "I stand at the door and knock" .. the door does not open from the outside - Christ does not force His way in - but here is where humanity becomes a part of salvation ... WE/THEY must OPEN the door from the inside and ask Christ into our hearts .. they evidently had not done that .. He then says I will come in and "eat" with you! Greeks had 3 meals a day ... breakfast was generally bread dipped in wine .... then a lite lunch .. but "eating" meant the evening meal ... it was relaxed and interactive .. and special ... good food was eaten .. (actually many times they ate on their sides laying down) .. quite leisurely meal ... ) .. this is the way He wants to live in us ... as a friend, a Saviour, a confidant !!, counsel, and fellowship .. He - closes with an amazing OFFER ... and truth ... He says (remember they were interested in wealth and pomp and glory ... ) Christ says words that are filled with incredible mercy and love .. "I give you the incredible privilege -- ... AS GOD GAVE ME ... "you can (I will give you the ability) to sit with me in my throne ... with the Father ... " He ends in essence .. with "anyone with an ear ...you can hear this too" I am not a very good typist .. so hope I didn't spell a lot of things wrong ..

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Devotional "Revelation: Laodicea"