Revelation 3:17-18
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”
Revelation 3:17-18 NIV
Sometimes the personal nature of God’s messages can catch us off guard. How accurately He can put His finger of conviction or challenge or comfort on our exact area of need. He can reduce us to tears in a moment. A God who was distant and aloof would be far less threatening. It’s unnerving to have someone so interested in us, someone from whom we cannot hide.
When God sent His Son into the world He said, “they will call him Immanuel—which means, God with us.” God put skin on, you can’t get more personal than that! It brings us face to face with a God who demonstrates His intimate involvement with his creation and his intense desire to connect with us. It shatters any comfortable ideas of God being remote or inaccessible. It ruins any idea God is disinterested.
God wants to be, Up, Close and Personal.
God commands John to write to the Church in Laodicea, and in this part he addresses the blindness, poverty and nakedness of the heart that has taken them over by being consumed by their wealth. How easy this can happen to us, a tax break, a payout, a business deal. We see it around us all too often. But the solution?
Trade your riches for God’s satisfying answers to life’s problems. Buy from God gold, His gold, then you will know richness in all its fullness. Buy from God white clothes to wear then you can be dressed modestly and He will remove your shame. Buy from Him healing lotion to put on your eyes and then you will be able to see the truth of the greatness of the Salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ.
How hard is it for us to give up our wealth? For some of us it is extremely hard to give up the safety of our earthly treasures and the happiness of our trendy friends wrapped in wealth too. But the passage goes on to say that if only we would do these things sincerely and turn from our sin that we will have fellowship with Him. To those who overcome they will be given the right to sit with Jesus on His throne.
Ultimately, the message to the church in Laodicea is a message to all believers. It is a reminder to examine our spiritual condition and not be deceived by the trappings of this world. We are called to seek true spiritual riches that come from an intentional and intimate relationship with Christ, and to guard against the dangers of complacency and self-sufficiency. Just as Jesus counseled the church in Laodicea, He offers us the same invitation to turn to Him for true spiritual wealth, righteousness, and vision!!!
Father, thank You for this day and the amazing grace that we have in Your Word. Lord, let Your abundant blessings flow over my friend and family today. Thank You for being our Jehovah Jireh, our provider, an our way maker. Lord, help us today to be the light and touch of Your love to all today.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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