Revelation 3:1-3 NLT “Write this letter to the angel of the church of Sardis. This is a message from the one who has the sevenfold spirit of God and the seven stars.”
I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive- but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find your actions do not meet the requirements of God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”
Revelation 3:4-6 NLT “Yet there are some of you in the church of Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life but will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”
We are in the fifth letter, and as with the first four, there are warnings and lessons not only for the church but for us as well…remember we are the church!
Sardis was one of the oldest and best-defended cities in the region and was the wealthy capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. (the area is now in the modern republic of Turkey)
In this letter Jesus isn’t condemning the church but the state of the church! When he speaks, ‘I know your deeds have a reputation for being alive but you are dead!’ In other words, they were spiritually lifeless, simply going through the motions!
You know the routine; it’s Sunday morning, get up, get breakfast in a rush, get the family up, fed, dressed and in the car…there’s usually a fight, and traffic sucks. We’ve arrived at church the line is a million miles long, no where to park…its raining! Run into the church, get the kids to their classrooms, hit the sanctuary, find a seat…oh my gosh, praise and worship has started. I don’t even have my coat off…the pastor is now talking, and I remember I forgot to take something out for dinner; what am I going to fix for dinner? What did he say? I missed that. Sound all too feel familiar? Possibly next Sunday we will take a church day off and rest…after all it is called the day of rest! Then, maybe the next one after that because life is busy and I’m tired! Hmmm, when was the last time we went to church! It’s that easy!
The church of Sardis was filled with unsaved people just going through the motions of religion! Jesus warns them and us to wake up! Remember what you have heard, learned, and received!
Check the condition of your heart and prayers! Are they routine? Said so often, they roll off your tongue without true heartfelt meaning behind them! Where is your heart? Is it on the path the Lord has for you, or has it wandered off into the wilderness and is a bit lost?
Jesus encourages us to repent, be faithful and worthy! Taking off the filthy garments and once again letting our Lord dress us in white!
To be worthy is to match up with…professing our faith with our mouths, matching the confidence of faith in our hearts. To be faithful to the end!
Jesus promises clothing of white for his faithful ones! The final promise to the church in Sardis: ‘he who overcomes a will be like them, dressed in white, and he also promises he will never blot out his name from the book of life, and I will acknowledge him before my father and his angels.”
It’s easy in our hectic world to get tired and side-tracked! There are many ways and places we can cut corners and time, but our relationship with God is not one of them! Take some time today if you can and possibly reflect on where and how true your walk is…spend some time talking to Jesus and have him help you get back on track!
If your walk and relationship are on track, be blessed and a blessing because, remember, you are a walking example to someone who might be lost! You are the church.
Be blessed today and thank you for sharing some Sunshine with me. ❤️☀️🥰
Sunshine On My Shoulder 