The Loved Rebuked and Chastened Revelation 3:19

John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, and he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos”, the “church in Thyatira”, “the church in Sardis”, “the church in Philadelphia” and finally the “church of the Laodiceans” where He told them, “Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”, and counseled them “to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.” In chapter three and verse nineteen of Revelation Jesus told the “church of the Laodiceans” “as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” where we read:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The verse reads, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:” John began with the words, “as many as I love” which means “as great and far as Jesus is fond and approves of, sanctions, treats affectionately and kindly”, “I rebuke” or “Jesus convicts, refutes and corrects” “and chasten” which means “and trains, instructs, teaches and castigates with words”. Jesus “loves” people, and He do not shy away from “convicting, instructing or correcting” them.

The verse continues, “be zealous therefore, and repent.” John added the words, “be zealous” which means “burn with zeal, be heated and boiled, desire earnestly and pursue” “therefore” or “accordingly, consequently and these things being so”, “and repent” which means “have a change of mind and heartily amend with abhorrence past sins”. Jesus instructed the “church of the Laodiceans” to have “fervent hearts” and turn from and rid themselves of their “sins”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus “loves” people who have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and He is not hindered from “correcting” them when it is necessary. God wants His children to “be fervent” in turning from their “wicked ways” because “sin” leaves it's mark upon a person's life. God will relieve all who will from the damage “sin” causes, so let all who read Jesus' words to the “church of the Laodiceans” “be zealous” and “repent” from their “sins” today.

Next time we see John share how Jesus tells the “church of the Laodiceans” “behold, I stand at the door and knock”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.