Happy Christmas! I pray you know God’s presence as you celebrate the birth of Jesus today.

Revelation 3 is divided in to 3 parts. The letters to Sardis and the equivalent ones to Philadelphia and Laodicea. They call each to account and don’t all make for easy reading.

Sardis had become superficial, a church that looked good from the outside but had become lifeless within. There were a few people there who still held their faith but many who had become complacent. They were called to sort themselves out or face the consequences.

Philadelphia appears to have been persecuted by the Jews and had endured it without giving up their faith despite their weakness. The promise given to them was that they would be protected when the end comes.

Laodicea had become lukewarm. They were warned that they needed to reassess their focus and turn back to God who was supposed to be their first love.

I find these passages to be intensely challenging. I find myself wondering what kind of church we are and what sort of Christian I am. Are we sleepy, complacent, lukewarm believers or are we the kind of church that struggles on in faith knowing that God sees our deeds despite the challenges we face? Are we people who truly understand what v.2b, 8 and 15 mean – that our deeds are to be judged by the God who sees everything? There is no room in this faith for indolence or passivity. That we are not supposed to be passengers on the glory train but active worshippers and servants of Christ who remain on fire for Him always?

Tough thoughts for Christmas Day, I know, but we need to know what we really are.

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Questions:

If you are as objective about your faith as you can possibly be which of these 3 portrayals would you most closely identify yourself with? The challenge to all of us here is to be as honest as we possibly can. Remembering that pride is the worst of sins.

Prayer:

Lord God, forgive us for the times when we have slipped into a life of complacency or for the times when we’ve become lukewarm. Forgive us for the occasions when we’ve put on a show making ourselves look like better than we really are. Strengthen us to endure where we must and set us on fire for You Lord every day that we might burn like furnaces for You. We pray in the glorious name of Jesus whose birth we celebrate today. Amen.