Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
During the course of Israel's history, her great sin was trying to get the best from both worlds. They claimed to believe in God but they did not obey Him. They honored Him with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. They left God in the background while they went about their everyday lives, ignoring the warnings from the prophets to repent and turn back to God. This is idolatry.
The church in Laodicea is committing the same sin. It is a very subtle form of idolatry. A member of this church is turned inward. He may claim to be a part of the body of Christ, but his worship is self-centered. This is idolatry!
True worship is a bowing down to God. Laying all "my" wants and desires on the altar daily. These are the burdens that keep us from doing God's perfect will in our lives. If we truly seek to follow Him, we will do as Jesus instructed: Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Taking up that cross is a hard thing; but the reward is great. This is a burden, indeed. But remember also what Jesus said: Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Diana Kukk
2 comments:
Well said Diana, we are to deny self daily and take up our cross and walk as our Lord Jesus did. And it is only as our old man is crucified that we are changed and formed into Christ’s image. It is not an easy thing to do but we are changed daily by His Spirit and the Word of the Lord. Our flesh does not want to die, but as we lay ourseleves on the altar of the Lord we offer up a sweet smelling offering that the Lord desires. Self is probably one of the biggest idols in our lives. That is why we must lay it aside. As we do this, His will for our lives is revealed to us daily. Just as Christ walked in the days of His flesh and pleased the Father in all things by doing and seeing what the father instructed Him to do. We are to walk as He walked, a servant is not greater than his master. In the world we will have troubles and hard times but it is by these testings and trials that the Lord changes us into His likness. So with the joy that is set before us we die daily and honor His NAME! Lord help us to be willing to do Your will especially in the areas that we are not willing. This is the true Gospel of the Lord that Paul always spoke about. It is foolishness to those in the world but to us it is the Power of God to change our lives.
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Cor 2:1-5 (NKJV)
Rich Grube
Amen, Brother Rich. Unless we lay our self-will aside we can never be pleasing to Him. The testings and trials that come are for our good.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
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