Knock, knock! Who’s there? Jesus...

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Read Revelation 3. Which part of Revelation 3 inspires you the most?

​NOTE: The Light of the World (1851–53) is an allegorical painting by the English Pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt (1827–1910) representing the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on an overgrown and long-unopened door, illustrating Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”...The door in the painting has no handle, and can therefore be opened only from the inside, representing "the obstinately shut mind."*

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1. Be Watchful: The church in Sardis was rebuked as a dead church and they were exhorted to wake up from their spiritual slumber, to remember what they had received and heard, to obey it, and to repent. Evaluate your spiritual walk and see if you have been slacking off, sleeping, or even worse — dead! Think of some practical ways that you could wake up from your spiritual slumber and put them into practice in the coming weeks.

2. Be Loyal: The church in Philadelphia, just like the church in Smyrna, received no rebuke but only commendations. Even with their little strength, they had good deeds, had kept God’s words, and had not denied God’s name. They were charged to hold on to what they had. Do you consider yourself as weak and having “little strength”? Why or why not? Be loyal to God and keep His words, for His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in our weakness (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9).

3. Be Fervent: The church in Laodicea received no commendation and was rebuked as overreliance on their material wealth without realizing their spiritual poverty, and spiritually being neither hot nor cold (i.e. not as healthful as the hot springs of the nearby Hieropolis, nor as refreshing as the pure and cold water of Colossae). They were counseled to buy from the Lord gold refined in the fire (spiritual riches, things that have eternal value), white clothes to wear (purity and righteous acts), and salve to put on their eyes (spiritual eyesight, vision), and be earnest and repent. Which of the above do you need to work on in order to shape up your spiritual life? Why and how?

4. Be Responsive: Jesus desires to have intimate fellowship with His children. He pictured Himself as one standing at the door and knock; and to those who responded, Christ promised to give the right to eat with Him, to sit with Him on His throne and share His victory. If Christ is knocking at your door now, what do you think He wants from you? How would you respond? Why?

5. Your own insight: (fill in yourself)

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Meditation and Application:

Meditate on the above questions along with the necessary actions. Out of the three churches in Rev. 3, which church do you resemble the most? Focus on the exhortation/recommendation to that church and see how you could put them into practice.

 

* Wikipedia, “The Light of the World (painting)”