19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.---------------------
This reminded me of Hebrews 12:6 "For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."
This is so important to know. I think this serves both as a justification of why we go through hard times sometimes and as a warning to those who belong to God, yet turn away...God will never let us go and he will do whatever he has to do to get us back. I remember the 100 sheep and how the shepherd goes to find the 1 lost sheep...That's who God is...he goes out of His way to find us, to turn us back to Him, and sometimes He has to do what He doesn't want to do...punish us...but it is for our own good...I'm also reminded of Israel and how God had to punish them over and over again...they experienced many wars and much destruction because they had turned from the path that God had for them...but God always ended up blessing the nation in the end. His promises were true and were alive! He disciplines those He loves and punishes each one he accepts as a His child... Now, honestly...I don't want to be punished by God...however, I'd rather face His correction now than His righteous judgement later. Discipline is good!
16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
ReplyDeleteThe verse preceding this say that He would rather us be either hot or cold. This is a very big statement for me. I feel at many times that i can be lukewarm. and here he says that i might as well not be Christian at all instead of being lukewarm. This is very hard to comprehend. But i feel like the point he is trying to make is that being lukewarm is no better than being cold, that in everything we do we should strive to be "hot" because that is the way Christ desires for us to be living.
I like v. 16 because my translation says vomit instead of just spit.
ReplyDelete20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
This is great to know, the Lord is knocking all we have to do is let him in. This can be applied when we are trying to show someone the Gospel - there is not weight on our shoulders. They just have to be openened(by Christ) to hearing his voice and he will do the rest. I know personally its difficult for me to translate a conversation or relationship into a being kingdom centered because I "don't know what they will think". Or something like that, now we just have to show/walk with where people where God is knocking.
All is Amazing in at the Feet of Jesus
21 "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne."
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter it says that if we overcome our struggles we will receive the same reward as Jesus, to sit with God at His throne. Can you think of any better reward in the entire universe than being in the presence of God!?!? I cannot even imagine what that would even be like! But in order for us to do that we must overcome our struggles just as Jesus did. We are faced with many conflicts everyday, such as spreading His word as well as living by His teachings, but if we succeed we get a reward, in my opinion, that is the greatest honor imaginable.
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very sobering passage..."the reputation of being alive, but you are dead." We don't just need to go from being bad people to being good people. We are dead and we need life. External change counts for nothing if you are still dead on the inside. Have you been made alive in Christ?