Friday, March 18
Reader: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit”
Response: “and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Some thoughts:
The book of Revelation is in some ways probably the most mysterious book in the Bible, however, its overall message is very clear and glorious for those who believe in what God has done for his creation. A brief word about Sardis itself can help us see the connection to today’s world.
Today it is known as Sart and is located in the western part of Turkey. The ancient city was known for great wealth and impregnable geographic location. At the time of John’s writing of Revelation, the city had fallen into decline. It appears they were living on their past reputation as being vibrant. There were many prosperous Jews living in the city, also known as Sephardic. In its past, the city, though considered unassailable, had fallen on two different occasions due to slack watchmen and over-confidence, hence John’s use of the words “be watchful,” a better translation than “wake up.” The people needed to be diligent and aware of what was actually happening.
The people in the church to which he is giving Jesus’ message are not alive in faith, but dead! These are Jesus’ own words and his assessment of their church life. There is a little bit of life in a few people in the church, but even that is dying out. The words of Jesus are to “go back to the beginning of what you first heard and believed. Repent!
Judgment is coming unexpectedly!”
What is the deadness of the church? What has caused it? Sardis was a cosmopolitan city on a main trade route. Pagan worship was everywhere. The Christian church was so compromised that it fit right into the culture. There was no persecution because the church was agreeable to syncretic worship, much like the coexist stickers you see on car bumpers today. There is some irony in Christ’s words in calling the church dead because one of the pagan gods, Cybele, was purportedly able to raise the dead to life!
There is a word of hope for the few in the church who have not “soiled their clothes with evil.” In this case, “soiled” refers to an impure life while white is the color of the garments of the redeemed throughout Scripture who have been made worthy by the blood of Christ. These clothes allude to purity, victory, resurrection, even baptism into a new life, as catechumens were often given white garments to wear upon their baptism and first communion. The names of all believers are written in the Book of Life. (By the 4th century, at the beginning of Lent, the catechumin’s names were written in the church record book, called “The Heavenly Book.”)
Now a question: If Jesus were sending a letter to the Christian Church today, what might it say? What is the reputation of his Church? Dead or alive? Or something in between? How much is the Church seeking to be relevant through compromising God’s truth on marriage, sexuality, gospel, or integrity. Does the Church seek to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying? Are the clothes “soiled” with compromise? Are the ears tuned to hear God’s Spirit? Our days are not all that different from Sardis in John’s time. May our actions and those of the Church hold firm and meet “the requirements of our God” in Jesus’ words.
Music: “The Church’s One Foundation” Classic Hymns (India)
Prayer: O Lord, my maker and protector who hast graciously sent me into this world, to work out my salvation, enable me to drive from me all such unquiet and perplexing thoughts as may mislead or hinder me in the practice of those duties which thou hast required. When I behold the works of thy hands and consider the course of thy providence, give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please thee to continue me in this world where much is to be done and little to be known, teach me by thy Holy Spirit to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and dangerous enquiries, from difficulties vainly curious and doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in the light which thou hast imparted, let me serve thee with active zeal and humble confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time in which the soul which thou receivest shall be satisfied with knowledge. Amen. ―Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, from The Book of Uncommon Prayer, p.85-86
Friday, March 18
Reader: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit”
Response: “and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Some thoughts:
The book of Revelation is in some ways probably the most mysterious book in the Bible, however, its overall message is very clear and glorious for those who believe in what God has done for his creation. A brief word about Sardis itself can help us see the connection to today’s world.
Today it is known as Sart and is located in the western part of Turkey. The ancient city was known for great wealth and impregnable geographic location. At the time of John’s writing of Revelation, the city had fallen into decline. It appears they were living on their past reputation as being vibrant. There were many prosperous Jews living in the city, also known as Sephardic. In its past, the city, though considered unassailable, had fallen on two different occasions due to slack watchmen and over-confidence, hence John’s use of the words “be watchful,” a better translation than “wake up.” The people needed to be diligent and aware of what was actually happening.
The people in the church to which he is giving Jesus’ message are not alive in faith, but dead! These are Jesus’ own words and his assessment of their church life. There is a little bit of life in a few people in the church, but even that is dying out. The words of Jesus are to “go back to the beginning of what you first heard and believed. Repent!
Judgment is coming unexpectedly!”
What is the deadness of the church? What has caused it? Sardis was a cosmopolitan city on a main trade route. Pagan worship was everywhere. The Christian church was so compromised that it fit right into the culture. There was no persecution because the church was agreeable to syncretic worship, much like the coexist stickers you see on car bumpers today. There is some irony in Christ’s words in calling the church dead because one of the pagan gods, Cybele, was purportedly able to raise the dead to life!
There is a word of hope for the few in the church who have not “soiled their clothes with evil.” In this case, “soiled” refers to an impure life while white is the color of the garments of the redeemed throughout Scripture who have been made worthy by the blood of Christ. These clothes allude to purity, victory, resurrection, even baptism into a new life, as catechumens were often given white garments to wear upon their baptism and first communion. The names of all believers are written in the Book of Life. (By the 4th century, at the beginning of Lent, the catechumin’s names were written in the church record book, called “The Heavenly Book.”)
Now a question: If Jesus were sending a letter to the Christian Church today, what might it say? What is the reputation of his Church? Dead or alive? Or something in between? How much is the Church seeking to be relevant through compromising God’s truth on marriage, sexuality, gospel, or integrity. Does the Church seek to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying? Are the clothes “soiled” with compromise? Are the ears tuned to hear God’s Spirit? Our days are not all that different from Sardis in John’s time. May our actions and those of the Church hold firm and meet “the requirements of our God” in Jesus’ words.
Music: “The Church’s One Foundation” Classic Hymns (India)
Prayer: O Lord, my maker and protector who hast graciously sent me into this world, to work out my salvation, enable me to drive from me all such unquiet and perplexing thoughts as may mislead or hinder me in the practice of those duties which thou hast required. When I behold the works of thy hands and consider the course of thy providence, give me grace always to remember that thy thoughts are not my thoughts, nor thy ways my ways. And while it shall please thee to continue me in this world where much is to be done and little to be known, teach me by thy Holy Spirit to withdraw my mind from unprofitable and dangerous enquiries, from difficulties vainly curious and doubts impossible to be solved. Let me rejoice in the light which thou hast imparted, let me serve thee with active zeal and humble confidence, and wait with patient expectation for the time in which the soul which thou receivest shall be satisfied with knowledge. Amen. ―Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784, from The Book of Uncommon Prayer, p.85-86