DAY 12

Sardis – The Church with a Reputation That it Didn’t Live Up To

‘To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious [overcomes] will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 3:1-6 (NIVUK)

Reflection

The church in Sardis looked alive but was dying. Outwardly impressive, inwardly empty. Its reputation outpaced its reality. Jesus’ call is urgent, 'Wake up!' This isn’t a mild correction, it’s a rescue. Spiritual slumber is dangerous. The enemy’s goal isn’t always destruction; it’s dullness and apathy. Jesus doesn’t condemn the past, but tells the church to ‘strengthen what remains and is about to die’ (v.2).

Jesus’ solution was to tell the church to remember what they’d heard about the gospel and repent from any apathy and inertia, while there was still time. There is another passage of scripture which alludes to the sudden return of Jesus and similarly exhorts us to be ready. ‘Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Matthew 24:42-44 (ESV)

What do you need to wake up from? Perhaps you need a fresh revelation of the wonder of who Jesus is. It’s so easy to lose sight of His beautiful character and nature, in the busyness of life. Maybe you need to wake up to some of the promises and prophetic words that have been spoken over your life but have been lying dormant – wake them up in Jesus’ name!  

Jesus also promises that on the final day of judgement, those who overcome will be dressed in white, cleansed, honoured, and unashamed. Jesus Himself will acknowledge them before the Father. What a promise for the awakened!

Devotional

by Kike Abioye

 

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