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Staying passionate for Jesus
I know that the holidays can be a tough time to stay passionate for Jesus. There are so many things that vie for our attention that by the time the New Year rolls around we can feel a little apathetic or complacent. Whenever I think about complacency I am always drawn to the Laodicean church in the book of Revelation. If you read their letter in Revelation chapter 3, it is easy to see why they are known as the church that succumbed to an apathetic spirit. Looking at their example and how the Lord spoke to them can be a big help during the holiday season. Jesus knows exactly how to heal a complacent heart and bring back the fire and passion. This is Jesus’ letter to the Laodicean church 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15 ' I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 'Because you say, " I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ' Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ' He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 ' He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" (Revelation 3: 14 – 22)
What makes me love this letter so much is that it is possibly one of the most positive church letters in Revelation. It is less harsh in its judgments and contains more astounding promises than some of the others. Read the letter closely and look for the blessings. It is a letter that is full of gifts and promises.
I think we have been studying this letter with a preconceived notion that God is spiting them out because of sheer repulsion and is absolutely disgusted to the point of rejecting them. What is really going on is that He has a special blessing for them that not only will break them out of apathy, but will usher them into a visitation with Jesus Himself. The letter to the Laodiceans is not about judgment, it is about giving. The crux of the letter is that God wants to give the Laodiceans something radical, and He wants to do it because He loves them.