2005-05-13 - Letter to the Church of Sardis

The Seven Churches, Part 3 - Sardis

Rev 3:1 "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. ² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. ⁶ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (NASB)

What is our Lord saying to the church at Sardis, and through them, to us? The diagnosis was spiritual death. But resuscitation was possible.

Is your Christian walk lively? Or have you become stuck in a rut? Are you going through the motions, or are you excited about going to church, reading God's word, conversing with your Heavenly Father?

Once upon a time, most of us were excited about our faith. But eventually, it usually becomes "old" to us. How can we revive it? Try something fresh. If you usually prefer traditional worship, give one contemporary service a try. You may not want to attend all the time, but it could quickstart your faith excitement. It speaks to people in the vernacular - just as Jesus did. Try a new version of the Bible. If you want a literally translated one, try the NASB or NRSV. If you prefer a paraphrase, the Message blows in on a fresh wind of the Spirit.

Read a new (to you) Christian author, or revisit an old one that inspired you. For me, that would be the late Henri Nouwen. I have never failed to be moved by his writing. It stirs something my heart.

Get involved in service. That's God's intent for us, and we aren't complete spiritually, if we are not using the gifts He has abundantly blessed us with.

And pray, pray, pray. God wants you to have a lively faith walk. But be careful what you ask for; you will get it! He may drop you out of your comfort zone.

Jan

cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org