I finished reading Revelation 2 and 3. Both Chapters are letters to the 7 Churches in Asia written approximately 95 A.D. God’s Church is the Body of Christ so those letters are for us today as well.

I appreciated the summary provided by my Study Application NIV Bible. There were commendations for 6 of the 7 Churches, rebuke for 5 of the 7 and action for all 7. I know I can take to heart everything.

Commendations: hard work, perseverance; suffered persecution, poverty; true to the faith; love, faith, service; effective; faithful.

Rebukes: forsaken first love; tolerate compromise; tolerate immorality; superficial; lukewarm.

Actions: remember and repent; don’t fear…be faithful; repent; repent; wake up…repent; hold on; be earnest and repent.

Whenever I imagine being with Jesus, I envision walking along a beautiful stream with Him. I wish I could give words good enough to describe the reality I feel there but it is life and it is beautiful, pure, safe, peaceful, invigorating.

In prayer I was asking Him to show me where my heart is in relation to the 7 Churches He encouraged and admonished. He told me not to fear admonishments because they are warnings to remove the blinders of lies.

When I envision myself with Jesus walking beside that stream, it doesn’t take long to be brought back down to earth with “reality” just beyond our walkway together. What the letters to the 7 Churches, and by extension to us, reveal is the blinders that keep us from being faithful to God.

What are some of our “blinders” today? Self sufficiency for those blessed with material wealth not realizing their need for God; hatred for others; judging others and not ourselves; coldness of heart because of the evils of the world; reveling in the evils of the world…those are just some I can think of but there are so many more.

The biggest lesson from the letters to the 7 Churches is that those letters are personal to me. I may as well have received them in the mail, opened them and read them. In the final letter to the Church in Laodicea…in the one to me…were these words: Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:19-21.

There are so many distractions in this world today that can tear our eyes away from God and convince us we are sufficient, we are good, others are bad so we hate them and look down on them…and we insulate our hearts. There isn’t enough time in a day so we push God back so far we can’t see our need for Him. We get caught up in the busyness of our lives and the causes we believe are all important and wonder why we feel stuck and alone and missing something essential.

There is a hole in our hearts and souls when we leave God out of our thoughts and busy lives. The amazing thing is He’s there even though we can’t “feel” His Presence. We’re just aware of the hole.

I Googled “God knits hearts together” and it took me to Colossians 2:2…I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Loadicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The one thing I am learning and feel led to share with you in this Blog, is the richness of God’s love. There is no treasure on Earth that can compare. No “wisdom” of the world that comes close. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7. If you have never been taught before, that’s okay. He is there and He will lead you in His truth and love. Ask. You will receive….abundantly.