“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)
It’s often when I am not paying attention, reading a book or writing something like this that I make the mistake. I reach out to grab my cup of coffee, and much to my disgust I get a mouthful of tepid bean juice. In the grand scheme of things it is not the worst thing that can happen, but it is not the most pleasant experience either. Continue reading
“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut” (Revelation 3:8)
Picture the scene with me. Something amazing has just happened. You have heard good news about a coming kingdom, a king who has defeated death, who transforms everything about life and who owns eternity. But where you live very few people know this message. In fact, it is viewed with great suspicion by neighbours and as seditious by those in power. Continue reading
“I know what you are doing: you have a name for being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1b)
Why do we even care if we have a name if the reality is that we are just big fakes? This is a really serious question which pokes and probes in and around the area we don’t like anyone to access; our heart and it’s motives. Continue reading
“All the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” Rev 2:23b
What is at the heart of this message Jesus has for his people? As we read it we can see that he calls into question those who claim to be his followers but who are involved in sexual immorality and free flowing sacrifices to idols. And this is correct, that is what Jesus identifies. However what is going on under the surface? Continue reading
I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name… (Rev 2:13a)
It doesn’t matter where you find yourself in the world, misrepresentation and false teaching of the good news of Jesus will exist. As I write this we have just finished spending time in Vietnam meeting up with colleagues and local church leaders. A recurring theme in our discussions was the rise of pseudo Christian cults and the speed at which they spread in the country. Continue reading
“The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life” (Rev 2:8)
If we are honest, we don’t really understand what this means. Why do I say that? Well it is not to do with our cognitive abilities, because it is quite straight forward in that regard. No, the issue is our context, our horizons. Most of us reading this will be from a predominantly western background and in reality don’t have much experience of suffering for the gospel, if any. Continue reading
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance…Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love” (Revelation 2:2,4)
Do you not love it when people tell you that you have done a good job? All of that hard work, all of that effort and now people can see the result and they praise you for it. You may be too modest to admit to this, but it is something we all like and it is not something which is totally wrong. As Jesus speaks to his people across Asia, he wants them to know that it pleases him to see their growth as disciples. Continue reading
