2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or…do you not realize this about yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST is in you…unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
Church Hopping?
We sit in the pews
of a number of churches
which all claim the NAME
of our SAVIOR and LORD.
But such is the pattern
which once was described
and still is yet present
for all to be warned.
Only two of the seven
outlined in HIS WORD
were found worthy of credit,
enduring with Faith.
Serving well as HE loves
Philadelphia and Smyrna
who embodied HIS WORD
and endured persecution.
But note the five others
whose faith – compromised
followed idols and self,
even long dead traditions.
Others still embraced sins
in their bodies and thoughts.
Choosing Apathy’s sleep and
lukewarm heart expressions.
So! We sit in these churches
admiring the pairing whom
CHRIST called the “Faithful”,
who clung just to HIM.
Yet blinded too often
most stay within Comfort
without self reflection
nor Self’s own rebuke.
Believing that they will
not suffer critique though
Complacency stains linger
on them like smoke.
In which church then sit you
and would “patient endurance”
be how the church body
describes your Faith’s walk?
Oh Self! Would their comments
align with CHRIST’s footprints
or…would they say “Different!”
when asked of your steps?
Choose then no stage separate
from GOD’s sovereign settings
and serve with a zeal which
leads all…to your church!
As HIServant in your service, reminded to surrender in
HIS steps every hour,
Whitney
Devotional: Below is the list of the 7 churches in Revelation. Only two bore no rebuke from HIM!
The Church of Philadelphia endured showing CHRIST’s love faithfully and the Church of Smyrna remained steadfast in HIM though suffering many persecutions.
So before you look for another church, find out first WHERE you’re at! It’s as much “Church Shopping” as it is “hopping”.
And remember whom GOD esteems in Isaiah 66:2.
“For all these things are mine, saith the LORD: and to whom will I have respect, but to the humble and meek, and those who tremble at MY WORD?”
We must gauge our own walk first and leave if we’re not being led by humble pastors who hold the WORD of GOD in highest regard!
So consider Joshua 24:14-15 “Choose Whom You Will Serve!”
14 And now fear the LORD, and serve HIM in righteousness and justice; and remove the strange gods, which our fathers served beyond the river, and in Egypt; and serve the LORD.
15 But if it seem not good to you to serve the LORD, choose to yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your fathers that were on the other side of the river,
…or the gods of the Amorites, among whom ye dwell upon their land: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD, for HE is holy.”
Choose then the path of dedication and sacrifice for the NAME of the LORD without and compromise because only two types of churches lead to HIM!
Which church of these seven do you truly belong to? Selah!
So let us repent, seeking GOD’s esteem by serving humbly and with trembling…considering HIS WORD.
Amen and amen!
Ephesus, The Loveless Church: Revelation 2:1-2. The people in Ephesus were hard-working people who endured and hated evil.
From the outside, they may have looked like they had it together but their hearts were wrong.
The 2 greatest commandments are to love God and love people (Mark 12:30-31) and Ephesus was missing this single greatest component of all Christianity.
Love!
Smyrna, The Persecuted Church: Revelation 2:8-11. There was no rebuke for this persecuted church.
Although they were continually under physical hardship, the people of Smyrna were promised that they would not be hurt by the second death.
They were encouraged to stay faithful, even when facing physical death.
Pergamum, The Worldly Church: Revelation 2:12-17. This church was the tolerant church.
Although they refused to deny Christ, they allowed sin like idols, immorality, cults and heresies to remain among them.
Thyatira, The Wrong Doctrine Church: Revelation 2:18-27. The church of Thyatira had love, faith and good works. They were even patient people who were eager to grow.
Where they fell short was their doctrine, which was infiltrated by idolatry, sexual sin and pagan traditions.
Sardis, The Spiritually Dead Church: Revelation 3:1-6 Almost all of the people in the church of Sardis had fallen asleep spiritually, except for a small remnant of believers.
The Dead Church was encouraged to kindle and revive any small bit of faith they had left.
Philadelphia, The Spiritually Alive Church: Revelation 3:7-13. Philadelphia did well. There was no rebuke for this church of faith.
They kept the name of Jesus and never denied it. There is a promise in the kingdom of heaven for these Christians.
Laodicea, The Lukewarm Church: Revelation 3:14-22. The church of Laodicea, unlike Philadelphia, only received rebuke.
They were neither hot nor cold as we read in Revelation. Their reliance on riches and things of this world resulted in a lukewarm, halfway-in type of Christianity.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that JESUS CHRIST is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
So seek the LORD with daily zeal, honesty, urgency and diligence to be found in the Church of Philadelphia or the Church of Smyrna!
Amen and amen!
2CJC 