Week 49, Day 1

Week 49, Day 1
December 5, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 3
 
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
 
The Church in Laodicea is rebuked for their lukewarm faith. This seems to be the most familiar of all the churches and their rebuke from Jesus about their spiritual state. The visualization is helpful for making it memorable. Lukewarm water is useless. It doesn’t quench the thirst, it neither cleanses or purifies or soothes like warm water.
 
Let us hold fast to what the rebuke is all about, a church that has everything, and is content in all its material gain says: “I do not need a thing.” Finding solace and comfort in material things will deaden our faith. Believing, “I have all I need in what I have,” does not lead to the type of love and worship of God the church is called to have and become.
 
A Church that says “I do not need a thing” has no sense of its need for God. 
 
A church that is useful to the world, to God’s mission, to God’s purposes is one that is keenly aware of its desperate need for God. We must guard our hearts from letting our wealth lull our hearts to sleep. We need God. “Lord, I need you, now and always.”
 
Not just in the difficult moments, not just when things aren’t going right. I need you when I have much and little. I need you in all circumstances. We must become like Paul, who knew what it was to have little and what it was to have much – in all things he was content because of Christ. It was Christ who gave him strength in all circumstances.
 
Perhaps we need to pray, Lord I have much, give me strength to trust in you. May your strength sustain me as I radically give and love those around me. Out of your blessings, let me be a blessing to others.
 
Do you need the Lord? I need him when I have little. I most definitely need him when I have much. 
 
I need you Lord, now and always.
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