religious reputations

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I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. [Revelation 3:1 ESV]

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I so wish that I did not understand what it means to have a reputation. Brings back so many thoughts. Dark ones. Images of superiority. Thinking I knew more about the bible than others. And falling hard when I began to understand how little I trusted God in my heart.

Our religious egos are so often inflated by our works. The way that God may use us sometimes creates a superficial reputation. In a sense we start believing we are more than divine vessels. Our journey becomes more about trusting our brains than trusting in the Lord.

Fortunately religious egos and reputations are so often no match for life. My trust in my brain began to ebb as I began to deal with suffering. Empathetic compassion began to take hold of me. My concerns about reputation were being replaced with concern for others.

Teach us Lord. Use the things that we suffer to make us like you.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

the persistent heart

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I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira ... I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. [Revelation 2:24-25 NLT]

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There are things in life that we must let go of. Hate. Turmoil. Despair. These are the things that wage war against us and often disable us. These have the power to make us different people.

In contrast there are things that we must never let go of. In times of hate we must hold tightly to God's love. His peace when turmoil rages all around us. Divine joy in days of deep despair.

In reality hate, turmoil and despair are present only in the mind. Heavenly qualities like love, peace and joy are experienced in the heart. Our challenge is to allow our new heart to persist.

Dear Lord. Help us to lean into our hearts that we might persist in love, peace and joy.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

heart blindness

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I am the One Who looks deep into the hearts and minds. [Revelation 2:23 NLV]

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In a world where models walk runways and hunks are worshiped on football fields, it is hard to imagine a world where people are known for the content of their hearts and minds. It reminds me of Samuel's dialog with God when he was looking to anoint the next Israeli king ...

“Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Like the prophet, most of us have a hard time seeing past appearances. In recent days troubling images of racism, tribalism and bigotry have surfaced in our country evidencing the manner in which some see people who are outwardly different. These suffer from a blindness of the heart.

In contrast God perceives things as they actually are because he sees us as we really are. His vision is not clouded by external skin color or tribal ancestry. Nor is it obscured by religious dogma or ideology. His vision challenges us to look past fleshly externals and see with our heart.

Teach me to see as you see Lord.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

the growing heart

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I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. [Revelation 2:19 NLT]

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Spiritual growth is recurrent theme in religious circles these days. Often accompanied by sermons on knowing the bible and developing spiritual disciples. There are even folks who specialize in spiritual formation. Yet the focus is so often on matters of the head and not the heart.

I love the way 'constant improvement' is related to love, faith, service, and patient endurance. These are all fruit of the spirit. Or put another way, evidences of a growing heart. In reality the newly born heart is like a newborn baby. It is not meant to stay the same but to grow into maturity.

Like the babe the new heart needs food to grow and exercise to become strong. I imagine spiritual food to be the receiving of love and spiritual exercise to be the giving of love. Each aspect is very necessary for the heart to grow. In that sense there is nothing more important than love.

Help us Lord to be open to the giving and receiving of love.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

stumbling blocks

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I have a few matters against you: some who live among you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel. [Revelation 2:14 VOICE]

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What do you think of when you read "stumbling block"? One commentary defines it this way:

"literally, that part of a trap on which the bait was laid, and which, when touched, caused the trap to close on its prey; then any entanglement to the foot"

The sense is that such obstacles are not accidental but something planned to ensnare its victim. Life is full of innocent indulgences that can lead us down a path of addictive behavior.

Apart from the obvious traps, like drugs and sex, stumbling blocks are often subtler. Good things, like discipline and exercise can become traps when they become extreme and obsessive.

Generally speaking, I think that the way to avoid stumbling blocks is to practice moderation in life. And to really know and understand ourselves - moderation is different for each person.

Dear Lord: Please keep us on the bright path and out of the dark ditches.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

the loyal heart

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Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum ... I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. [Revelation 2:13 NLT]

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Pergamum was a center of emperor worship reminiscent of Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his subjects bow to his statue. Back then there were a few young men who refused to bow. These survived a fiery furnace and gave us an example of hearts loyal to God.

Though not as drastic as a fiery furnace, we each face times that challenge our loyalty to the Lord. Scary times. Moments when everything around us compels us to lose faith and to fear. In such times of challenge we are given opportunities to trust in the Lord with all of our heart.

The operative words are heart and trust. The loyal heart is one that trusts God when everything is falling apart. The one that understands that God is near in times of trouble. Our challenge in hard times is to not trust our own understanding but lean into our beautiful and loyal heart.

Teach me Lord to trust you when the heat is turned up.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation

the second death

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He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. [Revelation 2:11 NASB]

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What do you think "second death" means? The phrase is used four times in Revelation. Some think it means a time in distant eternity when death is thrown into a fiery lake. That could be true but I wonder if the second death is an illusion to the time when each of us die?

Paul and Peter both use the phrase "dead in your sins" when they speak of the time preceding spiritual birth. Could it be that the first death is the state of all humans when they are born? If that is the case then the second death simply refers to the time when a person dies and is no more.

I am glad that the verse goes on to speak of those who are not hurt by the second death. Those who have been born of the Spirit continue to believe until the time of their death. They are not hurt by the second death because they have something that transcends earthly constraints.

Give us ears to hear Lord that we might be witnesses to those who need you.

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... this devotion is part of a series from the book of Revelation