“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 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. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:18-22

Questions for Reflection:

How does it feel to contemplate that Jesus is relentlessly pursuing our broken and rebellious hearts?

How does this word from Jesus help you have a spiritually healthy perspective on the role of "wealth and riches" in your life?

If Jesus were knocking on your heart's door today and speaking to you through the closed door, what topics would He bring up? What would he be saying to urge you to let Him in?

Prayer of the Week:

Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today in my heart’s search for life. Restore me in You! Renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

I thank and praise You for placing before me the open door of opportunity in Your kingdom. I now enter that door by faith surrendering myself completely to You – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will. I now receive all the belonging that comes with being in Your kingdom. I Belong to You, I Belong to Your Church and I Belong to Your Mission.

I ask You to give me eyes to see the open door of opportunity for Your Mission to advance, this day, through me and my church. I truly want to join You in Your mission today. I deeply desire to walk with people who are far from You on their journey closer to You. Use me Jesus. But I confess… much of the time I don’t want to or am indifferent. Jolt my indifference out of complacency so I can see and seize every opportunity you give me to be a witness for you. Lead me in the part of the I Belong Challenge to pray for, invite and bring someone to the Alpha Course this year.

I want to Jesus … and when I don’t want to… help me want to want to.

Jesus, Your Word in Revelation 3:16 convicts me of apathy and lukewarm-ness towards You, Your Church and Your mission which sometimes creeps in. I repent! Search me, know me and reveal any apathy and complacency so that I might be open to Your presence there, in me, to heal and make whole. I thank You for loving me so much that You knock on my heart’s door. I desperately need Your healing hand in every crack and crevice of my soul. Come in Jesus. I place my whole self and my whole story in Your presence for healing, wholeness, redemption and resurrection. I am a new creation in You and I surrender to Your ongoing transformation of Me!

Jesus, You are my First and Highest Love and I love You now! Fill me afresh with Your Spirit so that I might live today as Your beloved, loving my first love first!

Amen!