Today’s Scripture Threshing for Monday, March 25, 2019
Today’s Text: Revelation 3:14-22
Key Verse: Revelation 3:17 (ESV): ”For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
It’s so very easy for us to trust in people, things and self when we are surrounded by lavished provisions and resources. The ancient city of Laodicea probably has a lot in common with the cities in which you and I live today. It was a wealthy city. It was also large and beautiful—a center of attraction, being situated on one of the main Roman business roads that led to Damascus and Arabia.
This situation brought streams of wealth to the city and it’s people due to business traffic continually flowing through it. Opportunities for commerce and trades abound that made Laodicea’s inhabitants become very affluent. They trusted in their wealth, built huge amphitheatres in which Greeks and Romans excite themselves through different barbarous and degrading sports and lifestyle.
It was on this background that the risen Lord sent caution to the church in that city. That was the same church to which the founding apostle wrote to commend them on the steadfastness of their faith in Christ" (Colossians 4:13-16); but have allowed a sad wind of change to blow over them. Like us, the prosperity of their city, world and generation deceive and lure them into putting confidence in false hopes. Their love, zeal and desire towards their crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ, had been colorized and watered down by opportunities of wealth, businesses, cultural plurality and proliferations of value systems imported from all over the world. A cold or lukewarm people is the logical result.
Is there any difference from their situation and those of today’s church or world? Have we not become abhorrent to the Lord by our false confidence in the flesh, and fleshly things?! Like Elijah‘s "if Baal be God, serve him;" the risen Lord warns us to find our true identity and live as such. A lukewarm Christian is no Christian at all.
Quote for the Day: “Wealth and blessings are consistent with God’s kingdom: we can possess things and money and love God, but we cannot love things and money and love God.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: Dear LORD, you are the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, who reveals true conditions of the heart, help me by your revelation today, to put my confidence in your name and works of grace, rather in sensuality and false hopes. Amen.
With all my Love and Prayer,
Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD
The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),
2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144,
Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA
Email: reachingout@hopeforallnations.org
BBMme: E3F988D2
[Today’s Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA. Feel free to use it in your family altar and personal quiet times; and to contact us for further enquiry, help and partnership.]
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