Weekly Devotional 6-2-14 He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear
From heaven God directed an angel (possibly Gabriel) to give to John a seven part letter addressed to seven churches of the time, located in Asia Minor (Revelation 1-3). The seven churches were to some extent, representative of the entire church that began sixty some years earlier (Acts, chapter 2) and of these many centuries since. The letter contained commendations and condemnations of conduct found in these churches. At the end of each part of the letter God said, “He Who Has an Ear Let Him Hear.” This phrase was meant as an encouragement to some of the church and a warning to others. Early on in His instructions God said to John, “3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3 NKJV), encouraging the believer. Those who would hear and follow the instructions of the prophecy would understand the message and be blessed, but those who would not receive it would not be blessed.
Hearing and following the instructions of this forth-telling prophecy would for them, and does for us, lead to a right conduct of life, a life that would be and is pleasing to the Lord. Those who would not or will not hear and follow the instructions of the prophecy would and will turn away from right practices; engaging in things that were and are destructive to the church which is unpleasing to God. It seems, therefore, that it would be good to read and re-read what the Lord had and has to say to the church which is recorded in Revelation chapters two and three; not only read, but live according to its instruction. Certainly, we do not want to be seen by the Lord as He saw those of the church at Laodicea.
“14These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.’ 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:14-21 NKJV).
When a Christian, a member of the born again church, is lukewarm (that is, is complacent), he or she unwittingly opens the door to those things that God condemned in the body of His letter. They lose their first love (Rev. 2:1-7), they tolerate false teaching (Rev. 2:12-17; 18-29), and they lose their testimony (Rev. 3:1-6). Wouldn’t you or wouldn’t I rather have it said of us, “8I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8 NKJV)?
Those who will not deny the Lord’s name but remain resolved to honor Him throughout their lives will be rewarded as the Scriptures declare, “10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth… 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (Revelation 3:10…3:12 NKJV).
“He Who Has an Ear Let Him Hear.”
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of man