God Knows
I actually woke up earlier than the rest of the family this morning. I decided to get up and get in my Bible time early before the rest of the family got up. By I was soon joined by Caed and then Eliana and then Riley and then Stephanie and McKenzie. We made a morning trip to LaMar’s Donuts which ended up in the largest donut purchase of the past year.
Later our family watched the demise of the Broncos in Saint Louis which was hard to take. One of the advantages of having a house full of kids around is that you are never out of help (or excitement, or drama) Last night Caed, Eliana and McKenzie decided to help me exercise.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “To the angel of the church…write… ‘I know your works…'” Revelation 2:1,2
Each of the letters of the New Testament are written to an intended audience. Revelation is no different. However, instead of a specific church or to believers in a region, it is addressed to seven churches. Instead of just the church being mentioned we find a critique of that church by the resurrected Lord.
That critique includes areas of commendation, areas of condemnation and a call to repentance with an accompanying promise. The exception to this “outline” is the Church in Smyrna which doesn’t have any condemnation from the Lord and the Church in Laodicea which doesn’t have any commendation.
In five of the seven churches of Asia Minor to which this book is addressed, the Resurrected Lord says, “I know your works….” To the church in Smyrna He writes, “I know your tribulation and your poverty….” (Rev. 2:9) To the Church in Pergamum He writes, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is…” (Rev. 2:13)
The Lord of the universe knows. He knows that which is good and commendable, He knows that which is sinful, He knows the way to redirect our lives to address our greatest need. He knows what we don’t know. As John declared in his first letter, “we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:20) He knows what is best for us and desires that for our life.
Look at what the Lord promises the churches who obey and repent. “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life….” (Rev. 2:7) “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death….” (Rev. 2:11) “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Rev. 2:17) “I will give him the morning star…” (Rev. 2:28) “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Rev. 3:5) “I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven…” (Rev. 3:12) “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev. 3:21)
What is the response that brings the blessing? “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches….” Listen and respond. Hear the message, don’t deny the reality, take heart in the Lord who is willing to serve as a warning and even stop sign on the road of life. Just as the message of the Lord to these churches was personalized and directed, the Lord knows us each individually. Our good points are different as are our shortcomings, what is the same is the Lord’s desire for us to stop, listen and change. When that happens we can experience the blessing, direction, protection and future the Lord desires for each of us.