Revelation 3:14-22

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” (17). The Laodiceans were “lukewarm” (16) and had settled into a comfortable life. Satisfied with their physical comforts and earthly security, they had traded away abundant life with Christ and unknowingly made themselves “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (17). Sadly, they didn’t realize it. Jesus exposed their emptiness because, “those whom I love, I rebuke” (19).

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire” (18). The world offers us the illusion of happiness and ease, but this prideful self-sufficiency leads to despair and death. Life with Jesus is real gold, if we will repent and let Him in (20).

Revelation 3:1-13

“You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead” (1). John throws cold water in the face of the church of Sardis. He admonishes the complacent people to “wake up, remember, and repent” (v2-3), warning them that a day of reckoning will come when Jesus shows up unexpectedly, “like a thief” (3). John’s warning is that spiritual entropy and apathy are real; we must stay on our guard and awake.

“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white” (4-5). God is not predisposed to write us off easily (5); He wants us to hear His warning (13). He calls us to be attentive to the reality of our soul’s condition, not our reputations, so that we keep walking with Him.

Revelation 2

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance ...” (18). John’s prophetic words to the seven churches included encouragement and warnings. The Ephesian believers hated wickedness (2), but they had forgotten the point – love for Jesus Himself (4). Those in Smyrna faced terrible pressure, and their faith remained strong – even to the point of death (10). Those in Pergamum were faithful, but they followed some mistaken teachings (14 15), and others tolerated sexual immorality (20).

“I am he who searches hearts and minds” (23). The Lord’s voice cuts through cultural blind spots, calling us to follow Him even when it costs us. We can risk losing everything because He promises “hidden manna” – what we truly need - and a new name (17).

Psalm 142

“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way” (3). The psalmist knew what it felt like to be burdened by troubles and isolation, to the point of hopelessness. At times, whether or not it was true, he felt like he had “no refuge” and no one who cared for him; no one was concerned that he was near the breaking point (4). But he poured out his complaint before the One who always hears and always responds (1-2).

“You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living” (5). We can run to the Lord, our refuge, knowing that we will find the strength we need. He comforts us and puts us on our feet again.

Hosea 2,3

Israel, in spite of God’s love and faithfulness to her, was insistently unfaithful to God – tantamount to a wife’s being openly and brazenly unfaithful to her husband (2:1-7). She only returned to God when she had needs (v7). God determined to punish her according to her sins. She despised every act of kindness, selling herself to the highest bidder, yet God determined to redeem her. Hosea’s marriage was a mirror of Israel’s behavior; his wife had sold herself. Yet God, to show his determination to redeem Israel, told Hosea to go and buy back his wife (3:1,2).

Peter reminds us that we were bought (1 Peter 1:17-24) at a price that only God would give, “precious blood of a lamb… the blood of Christ. ” Never doubt God’s love, and never take it for granted.

Hosea 1

Hosea, contemporary of Isaiah, prophesied during the darkest days of the “northern kingdom,” Israel. His ministry was not only with words, but like Isaiah’s, his family was a living message that demonstrated the heart of God (Hosea 1:2). Ahaz, king of Judah (Isaiah 7), had not listened to Isaiah’s warning and had invited Assyria into the promised land to be allied with Judah It was an act of rebellion, but God allowed it as a lesson against unfaithfulness. The cost was the Assyrian captivity. But in wrath, God remembered mercy.

Hosea reminded Israel (Hosea 1:10) of God’s covenant: “The number of the sons of Israel will be like the sands of the sea (Gen. 22:17). God’s promises do not excuse us from his corrective judgement, but neither does his corrective judgment negate his mercy.

Daniel 11-12

Though a captive, Daniel accepted the role that God was giving to him, to be an encourager and protector to Darius, the Mede king (11:1). Perhaps the ensuing prophesies were shared first with the king. Daniel’s first insight was to see Darius as one in a long line of kings to come (11:2ff). Whatever he was like, he was not the final. Daniel saw a king’s pride would cost tens of thousands to die, (11:12). Nations would rise and fall Evil would continue to plague people, governments and rulers. Both the righteous and the unrighteous (11:33-35) would die in the convulsions of the nations, but (12:2), the righteous would rise from the dead to everlasting life. That is our hope.

Daniel 8-10

At the beginning of Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel had been given a vision of the ages to come (Dan. 7:1, 27). Two years later he had another, this time of particular kingdoms of the future (8:1). In allegory Daniel saw the rise of Persia, the emergence of Greece, Rome, and the arrogance of a “final king,” (8:23-26).

These chapters, 8-10 teach three major lessons. The first is God’s overpowering, amazing, encouraging omnipotence over world affairs. He not only knows the future, His plans and purposes will not be thwarted. The second lesson is the role and power of prayer (10:12, 13). God may allow spiritual opposition for a time, but God’s power is not relative; it is absolute. The third lesson is, “Be encouraged” (10:18-20), the One who was with Daniel is with us. That lesson still resonates.

Revelation 1

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” (5-6). John’s letter was a “revelation” – a revealing – from Jesus and about Jesus (1-2). John saw a man whose voice “was like the sound of rushing waters” and whose face was like the sun. This Living One, the “firstborn from the dead”, is the same One who loves us and freed us from our sins.

“Do not be afraid” (17). Jesus Christ, who holds the keys of life and death, loves us and has included us in His kingdom. Worldly powers rise and fall, but we serve the One who is forever.

Jude

“I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (3). Using strong words and images from the Old Testament, Jude warned believers about those who “pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ” (4). These “ungodly people” (the spiritual descendants of Cain) were posing as Christians and attending fellowship meals, but they were “shepherds who feed only themselves” (12).

Jude urges us to wake up, defend ourselves spiritually, and pursue a life of devotion to Jesus. “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love” (20-21).

Psalm 141

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice” (2). The psalmist’s desire was genuine fellowship with God – prayer and worship that was as ‘real’ as incense and sacrifice. He longed to grow in righteousness and asked God to “set a guard over my mouth ... do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil” (4). Knowing the human tendency to self-justify, he even asked for help and correction from godly people (5).

“But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord” (8). Fixing our eyes on Jesus helps us avoid the deceptive pitfalls of sin (8), and in Him we see clearly what righteousness looks like.

Daniel 6-7

“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (6:10). Daniel’s decision to serve God did not change when laws changed. He was loyal to God both privately and publicly, so much so that those who opposed him recognized that he was “trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (6:4). Daniel believed that God alone possessed all “authority, glory, and sovereign power ... his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (7:13).

“But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever” (7:18). As followers of Christ, our choices are not based on shifting, temporary worldly powers, but on the forever kingdom of our Lord.

Daniel 3-5

“They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up” (3:12). Babylon’s golden image represented world dominance: military, economic, cultural, and spiritual power But Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego refused to bow to the image, despite the risk to their jobs, status, and lives. Nebuchadnezzar believed the fantasy of his own glory (4:30), and later Belshazzar made the same mistake (5:22). But the exiled Jews, while serving Babylon, remained loyal to the true God and bowed to no one else.

“We do not need to defend ourselves before you ...” (3:16). When we give whole-hearted allegiance to Jesus and His kingdom, our hearts are at peace. Whether in life or death, we belong to God and are safe with Him.

Daniel 1-2

“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it” (1:1). Daniel’s book opens with the worst disaster in Israel’s history: God allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem, including Solomon’s Temple, and to carry off its best young people into captivity. But in their exile, Daniel and his friends “resolved not to defile” themselves with unclean food (1:8). While serving the king, they remained faithful to God, and God gave them “knowledge and understanding” that surpassed Babylonian advisors.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his” (2:21). In our worst disasters, even those of our own making, our wise and powerful God is still at work and hears our prayer.

III John

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (4). John was filled with joy because he heard about Gaius practical faithfulness. He commended Gaius especially for showing generous hospitality to those believers who left their homes “for the sake of the Name” – in a time when travel was dangerous (7). John encouraged others to show hospitality “so that we may work together for the truth” (8). In contrast, Diotrephes spread malicious rumors, refused to welcome those spreading God’s Word, and stopped others from doing so (9-10).

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good” (11). John urges us to imitate mature, sacrificial believers whose entire lives match their beliefs.

II John

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands ...” (6). John wrote to the “lady” (metaphor for church) to correct the ideas of the “deceivers” (7) who were misleading people about a spiritualized, other-worldly Jesus. These false teachers implied that people could “believe” in Jesus without accepting His commands. But John said Jesus Christ was not ‘anything goes’; He came in the flesh and brought real “truth and love” (3), changing the way we see one another (4-6).

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ ...” (3). Jesus is not a passive spiritual resource. His grace covers our sins so that we can die to our old ways and begin to “walk in love” (6).

I John 5

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (13). John reassured doubting, anxious believers who were being fed various lies (2:9,22) that their fellowship with God was secure. Everyone who believes that “Jesus is the Christ” becomes God’s child (1), a new birth demonstrated by love for the Father, for His Son, and for one another (1-3). As His children, we learn to obey (3), “and if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (14).

“Whoever has the Son has life” (12). Life in the Son is more than belief; it is power to “overcome the world” and embrace the ways of His kingdom (4).

Psalm 140

“Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle” (7). The psalmist prayed for help against his enemies, including those who tried to make him stumble (4) and those who attacked his reputation (11). The psalmist did not hesitate to cry out, “Rescue me!” (1), whether the danger was emotional, physical, or spiritual. However, he understood that God would not bless every selfish purpose; the sovereign Lord was on the side of the “poor” and “needy” (12).

“You are my God” (6). God sees and hears our cries for help, and His loving purpose is not just to rescue, but to align our will with His own.

Ezekiel 46-48

“I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east ...” (47:1). Ezekiel’s dramatic vision pointed to a restoration for Israel that was much greater than what the exiles imagined. A river flowed from the new Temple, and fruit trees with leaves for healing grew on each bank (47:12; Rev 22). Every tribe (even the lost northern kingdom families) had their allotment (ch 48), and, surprisingly, foreigners in the land were considered “native-born Israelites” and had an inheritance, too (47:22).

“The Lord is There” (48:35). Ezekiel’s vision revealed God’s promise: that in the kingdom ruled by the Messiah, there is living water, healing and restoration, and room for everyone.

Ezekiel 44-45

“They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common ...” (44:23). Ezekiel’s vision of a newly restored Temple emphasized the role of the priests, and the Temple plan included their houses (45:4) and a vast “sacred district” (45:1). His vision pointed to a spiritually restored Israel in which everything centered on worship. Even “the prince” lived near the Temple (45:7), and the priests, who had worshipped idols in Ezekiel’s former vision, lived righteously, depending wholly on their special “inheritance” (44:28) – God Himself.

“I am to be the only inheritance the priests have .... I will be their possession” (44:28). Israel’s priests symbolized what God wants for all His people: to worship, to reflect His holiness, and to place our lives wholly in His hands (I Peter 2:5).