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, “These
things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of
the creation of God”.
He added, “I
know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were
cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.”
He also 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 in chapter three and verse eighteen of Revelation Jesus told the
“church of the Laodiceans”
how they should “buy
of me gold tried in the fire” where
we read:
I
counsel you 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 does not appear; and anoint your eyes
with eye-salve, that you may see.
The
verse reads, “I
counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be
rich;”
John
began with the words, “I
counsel you”
which means “Jesus recommends, deliberates and determines for the
church of the Laodiceans” “to
buy of me”
or “attend to, be and lounge in the market place from Jesus”
“gold”
which refers to “precious things made of gold” “tried
in the fire”
which means “burned, kindled, incensed, ignited and purified in a
fiery kiln”,
“that you may be rich”
or “so the church of the Laodiceans might have abundance, be richly
supplied and affluent in resources so he can give blessings of
salvation to all”. Jesus desired for the
“church of the Laodiceans” to
purchase and be engaged in the “true riches” of God so they might
be “wealthy” in Him.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that
the shame of your nakedness does not appear; ” John
continued with the words, “and
white raiment”
which means “light, bright, brilliant, dazzling and splendorous
tunics, cloaks or mantles”, “that
you may be clothed”
or “so the church
of the Laodiceans might
be arrayed”, “and
that the shame”
which means “so the ignominy, disgrace and dishonor”, “of
your nakedness”
or “of the church
of the Laodiceans nudity
or absence and desire for clothing” “does
not appear”
which means “is not made manifest, visible, known or realized”.
Jesus desired for the “church of the Laodiceans” to be “arrayed”
with His “pure clothing” so their absence and desire for
“clothing” would not be “made visible”.
Finally
the verse says, “and
anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that you may see.” John
concludes the verse with the words, “and
anoint” or
“rub in and besmear” “your
eyes”
which refers to “the church
of the Laodiceans' faculties
of the mind, sight and vision”
“with eye-salve”
or “with a preparation composed of various materials and used as a
remedy for tender eyes”, “that
you may see”
which means “so the church
of the Laodiceans
might discern, be possessed with sight and perceive by the senses,
feelings, use and experience”. Jesus desired the “church
of the Laodiceans”
to “anoint”
their “eyes”
and “see and perceive” His “eternal” perspective.
When
we think through John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus desired
for the “church of the Laodiceans” to have “true and
everlasting” “riches” of “gold tried in the fire”,
“white raiment” and “eyes that see” and perceive His
“eternal” ways. God is for us, and those who receive His Son
Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” begin to involve themselves in
these “eternal” accessories. Rather than being deceived by
“temporary” things that have no “everlasting” value, God
wants His followers to be equipped with precious and valuable metals
and “clothing”. Let all who read these words “desire”
the “eternal treasures” of God and receive His invitation to
accept His “eternal” riches He offers.
Next
time
we see John share how Jesus tells the “church
of the Laodiceans” “as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten”,
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.
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.
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