Jesus Loves Laodicea

In the address to six churches in the Book of Revelation, Jesus expresses His approval and praise, and also points out what needs to be corrected. In His message to His church of the last time, He finds nothing worthy of His approval. At the same time, the Lord clearly reveals the church's problems and provides a solution, advising specific ways to correct the situation.

It is amazing that with such an abundance of light, knowledge, education, economic and technical development, we have not become better spiritually. On the contrary, we have lost the foundation that is pleasing to God. Of course, this situation is created by the overall picture of the spiritual decline of Christ's church. But if we speak of individual children of God, Jesus has always had people who followed the truth and lived correctly in the received light. However, despite such a miserable state of Laodicea, the Faithful Witness declares His love for it. He says that He rebukes and punishes those whom He loves. Moreover, as a reward for obedience, Jesus gives His people promises that have never been heard before. To help believers come out of their lukewarm state, the Lord has personally come. He offers communion with Himself without intermediaries, so that everyone who responds can learn to live according to the truth. Christ's love for His people is so overwhelming that He is ready to serve His chosen vessels day and night, leading them out of their pitiful state.

But Laodicea's problem is pride and spiritual blindness, which do not allow God to fully manifest His power in His children. And by advising them to reconsider their attitude toward truth, God opens new opportunities for spiritual growth and development, offering Himself as a Teacher, a Friend, a Mentor. And He no longer promises to come soon. He has already come and is standing.

How precious we are to Jesus! With what tenderness He expresses concern about our true state! What an amazing decision He made for our salvation! What blessings of Heaven Jesus has prepared for us!

By offering us gold refined by fire, the Lord desires to see us as possessors of this Heavenly treasure. How many kilograms does His gold weigh? I think all the money in the world would not be enough to acquire it. But a thirsting soul receives this treasure in unlimited quantity. Heavenly gold is the most valuable wealth of Heaven. It is the very currency that circulates among all heavenly beings. And now, finally, it becomes the possession of sinners who have believed but stopped in their development.

The love and faith of God's children have always had the approval of the Most High. They continuously testified to the close relationships between the saved and the Lord. In all ages, this gift was strengthened and developed. But in the last time, because of the multiplication of lawlessness, love has grown cold in many. It has not disappeared, not lost its name, but ceased to be a driving force, becoming cold and calculating. And in its place came fear, duty, and guilt. Guided by such motives, I try to serve and please God. When something works out for me, I begin to consider myself rich and advanced spiritually, and in my eyes, my righteousness simply overflows. And if I am surrounded by equally advanced friends, then together we are a force. We have certain achievements that we can boast about. For His name's sake and out of love for us, God blesses our efforts to earn salvation, giving us protection and results in some of our endeavors. But with what sadness He watches us. Having an ocean of God's love, I am content with crackers in a beautiful wrapper.

But to accept God's blessing, I need faith that they exist, that they are mine, and that I will receive them.

Jesus asks His disciples: Luke 18:8: "...However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" It is this faith that He offers us to buy from Him. Faith and love that will truly make us rich. Through them, God's character will be revealed and restored in my heart. The Lord will teach me to apply these soul properties in my life, and I will come under the special influence of the Holy Spirit, who will reveal to me the entire depth and beauty of God's plan of salvation for my time.

God's Agape love is now my possession, and among the elements and temptations of this world, I become truly rich, having unlimited access to heavenly treasures. And to comprehend this love, I need this very love and the One who will teach me how to use it.

But Jesus' plan is not only to endow me with Heavenly blessings but also to teach me how to manage them.

The exchange does not happen immediately. There is much in me that I have deeply hidden, and the Lord begins the process of my purification. It can be quick or may drag on. Everything depends on me, on my desire to grow and on my faith. Revealing my dirty and weak spots, the Lord asks me what I will do with them. He has already asked me to be zealous and repent, but always waits for my decision. Absolute love and complete respect for my freedom. How pleasant! And if I choose sin and deeds of the flesh, I develop in that direction.

Grace has an interesting property. It is like the law of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If I am faithful to God's principles, I can taste the fruits of blessings, and no one prevents me. I have unlimited access to the tree of life, but no one guards the other tree. But if I taste the fruits of the forbidden tree, I immediately deprive myself of the fruits of the tree of life. A guard appears near it, closing access to its fruits.

But Jesus loves me so much that He paid with His life for my sins, opening access to the life-giving source. The Lord is ready to forgive and quench the thirst of everyone who now thirsts and seeks. Let the thirsty come and drink.

With what compassion Jesus calls me by name, saying that I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. He does not leave me like this but offers me a Heavenly solution to my problems. And this is the most accurate and best solution.

He is ready to give me everything most valuable and precious that Heaven possesses, the most correct, the most good. And receiving this gift, I will not be disappointed because something bad and imperfect was given to me, and the best was saved for later. The beautiful love that I am comprehending now, in combat conditions, will be just as wonderful for all Eternity. I am learning in Christ's school to love those who do not deserve it, those who hate me, those who want to kill me. In Eternity, there will be no such people, and my earthly experience will remain with me to testify to the entire Universe about the depth of God's love and exalt Jesus in this gift. And the friendship with Jesus that was begun here by faith in the invisible, in the most complex circumstances, will be taken to Heaven to develop further in conditions of open love and open opportunities.

And now I am learning acceptance, trust, knowing the power of love, discovering its depth and beauty, experiencing its victories. Jesus Himself guides and corrects me.

I do not know how love was given to God's children in the Middle Ages, but I see the power it possesses in me in our time. I understand that this is only the beginning of great discoveries and works of love that have put an end to sin in my life and mercilessly destroy it, showing a more excellent way.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. What was revealed to you in this chapter?

2. Is Christ's address in the message to Laodicea directed to the entire church or to me personally?

3. What will happen if I do not study this message and show no interest in it?

4. Why does Jesus call me wretched when everything is going well for me?

5. Why does the Lord punish those He loves? Is this fair?

6. What do God's punishments look like?

7. Please read Revelation 3:19; Psalm 140:5; Proverbs 3:12,13:24; 1 John 4:17; Galatians 5:6 in light of this chapter.