Jesus had John write another letter to the church at Sardis.
Revelation 3:1-6. I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead. Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears – grasp it again and turn back to God. If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I'll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night. You still have a few Christians in Sardis who haven't ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world's ways. They'll walk with me on parade! They've proved their worth! Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels. Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. Message Bible
Wow, what a challenging word from Jesus to his own people!
What stood out to you the most?
Here is a church that appears to be alive and active but is spiritually dead and asleep. Jesus calls them to wake up. How easy it is to become busy doing our own work, maybe even asking God to bless it, rather than taking time to see what the Father is doing and align our efforts with his will.
Externals can be deceiving. In a day of bright lights, noise and hype, Jesus looks beyond the surface – to the heart of the matter. He calls his own people to repent and turn back to God (it's interesting how we think that repentance is for the unbeliever, where often it is a call for believers to turn back to God).
Holy Spirit, awaken our ears to your voice today. Tune us to your promptings. Amidst the wind, the earthquake and the fire, may we hear your small gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12).