Revelation 3:1-6 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Revelation 3:1-6. Let’s go!
Revelation 3:1-3 (NIV)
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.
On verses 1-3: Jesus’ next message is for the church in Sardis. Sardis was a wealthy city that was strategically located on an important trade route. Sardis was also a centre for religious activity, being the home of the temple of Artemis and also a Jewish synagogue. Sardis was quite possibly the wealthiest and most famous of all the cities that Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 and 3.
This is one of the few messages Jesus gives to the churches where Jesus does not begin with praising the church. He tells them point blank: “you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!” (v1-2a) It appears that the church in Sardis was once passionate about living for Jesus, but had fallen into complacency. So Jesus tells the Sardisian church: “Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God” (v2b). Jesus warns them that if they do not remember and obey what they have heard, if they do not wake up and repent, His return will come as an unwelcome surprise to them (“like a thief…you will not know at what time I will come to you” (v3b)).
What can we learn from this?
1. Perhaps at one time you were passionate about living for Jesus, but somewhere along the way you got distracted and grew complacent. If that is you, then Jesus is calling you to return to Him. Jesus is not finished with you yet. There is so much more that He wants to do in you and through you.
2. Returning to Jesus is not simply about waiting for a spiritual feeling to come upon you. Returning to Jesus is very practical. Returning to Jesus means remembering what you have previously received and heard from God’s Word and actually taking steps to obey it. Take those practical steps and the feelings will come later.
Revelation 3:4-6 (NIV)
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.
On verses 4-6: Though the majority of the Sardisian Christians had grown complacent, Jesus notices that there are a few who have hung on faithfully to Jesus (“who have not soiled their clothes” (v4a)). About these special few, Jesus says, “They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” (v4b). On that note Jesus encourages the church in Sardis to overcome (to hang on to their faith in Jesus), so that three things can happen:
– they too can be dressed in white (symbolizing purity, righteousness and Christ-likeness);
– their names can always be found in Jesus’ book of life (see Revelation 21:27); and
– Jesus will acknowledge them before God the Father (see Matthew 10:32) and the angels (Luke 12:8).
What can we learn from this? Though you may live in an environment where things seem dead, God takes notice of you when you keep hanging on to Him. Don’t let your environment determine your passion for God. Rise above your environment to worship Jesus.
Heavenly Father, when I find myself in anenvironment where people seem cold or complacent toward You, may I not let my environment determine my relationship with You. Instead may I rise up above my environment to give You uncommon worship. For You make it possible and You will take notice when I do. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
