Sunday, May 10, 2020

LAODICEA

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:14-22

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Evidences of settlements at Laodicea go back 5,000 years, according to the archeologists. Here they are reconstructing a temple from pieces of rubble found nearby. Laodicea was destroyed by earthquakes many times, the last being in the 7th century, after which it was abandoned. According to today’s reading, the people who lived here said, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” (3:17a).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Revelation 3:20-21

Behold, 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. To 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.

 

Today’s reading begins with Jesus giving three descriptive titles for Himself: (1) “The AMEN!” He is “Truth!” He is the “Absolute Certainty!” The Apostle Paul declares, “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen!” (read 2 Corinthians 1:19-22). Let us “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (2) “FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS!” In court the promise is made to tell “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Jesus takes the witness stand! (read John 3:30-33). He is totally and completely accurate. It is impossible for Him to say anything other than truth! (3) The “BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF GOD!” This does not mean that He was created! It means that He began the creation. We must always compare Scripture with Scripture. This is why we must read all of it, so as not to come up with error as does the false religion which teaches Jesus was a created angel (read Colossians 1:16-18).

History records that this city had a very poor water supply which was contaminated by impurities and literally made many people sick to their stomachs. If their water was cold, it would mean that it was from an artesian well. If it was hot (boiling), the impurities would be destroyed. It was “lukewarm.” These people made Jesus feel sick. “I will spew you out of My mouth!” Hey everybody! Listen up!!!

Let’s take time to meditate on 3:17-19. Imagine that we were there with John. We see Jesus in all His glory. We look into “His eyes like a flame of fire!” We hear “His voice as the sound of many waters!” (Revelation 1:14-18). John fell at the feet of Jesus as if he were dead! Let’s judge the temperature and purity of our experience with God by our reaction to Jesus’ Words!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I find myself overcome by my emotions. All I can pray, as I heard on a recent 100 Huntley Street telecast, is, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!!!” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

John 6:37b is the verse of the Bible I’ve quoted more than any other throughout my life. That’s because Jesus said, “Then one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out!” That’s the verse an elderly man gave me as I stood at the front of the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. I had been angry at God since my mother’s death when I was 12. Now I was 16, and finally I had responded to an invitation to follow Jesus. A truly “hot” evangelist named Jack Wrytzen gave the invitation. One of my jobs for five months prior to that night was to deliver the audio tape of Jack preaching from Times Square, New York City, to CHOV radio each week. My boss for my part time job, Syd Healey, owner of the Chrysler dealership, paid the radio time and the tapes were mailed to him for radio coverage of the upper Ottawa Valley. Syd had always done this himself prior to this. No doubt he knew that by delivering these tapes, I would make it a point to listen to the preacher. I did! I was ready to get right with God the night that I heard the preacher from the Word of Life radio broadcast in person.

The other verse I think I’ve quoted often over the 64 years since that time is Revelation 3:20. Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and dine with him and he with Me.” As one who has sought to lead people to Jesus through the years, I now say to everyone who reads this, “Come, come to Jesus now.” He’s knocking on your heart’s door. Please, please, don’t turn Him away. The key to unlock the door is in your hand. It’s a simple prayer that Jesus gave us. Please say with me right now, “Lord God, be merciful to me, for I’m a sinner. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come in to my heart Lord Jesus!” It’s really important that you tell someone that you have unlocked your heart’s door and invited Jesus in. A good way to do this is to call one of our Crossroads/100 Huntley Street prayer partners at 1-866-273-4444. A caring, non-judgmental person will answer the phone. If you get a busy signal, try again. You can also confess Jesus in an e-mail to ministry@crossroads.ca. One way or another, you must not keep the wonderful news of your decision to yourself.

Yours for making our decision for Jesus known. Jesus said, “If you confess Me before men, I will confess your name before My Father in Heaven” (read Luke 12:8-9),

David

The rebuilding of ancient Laodicia has been going on for years. Jesus promised the people of Laodicea, “To him (the person) that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne” (Revelation 3:21a).

 

29 thoughts on “Sunday, May 10, 2020

  1. A happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! 💐🌹

    As someone pointed out, yesterday’s reading should have been the church of Philadelphia and today Laodicea. You can enter the date of May 10, 2018 on your search bar and read the commentary on the Laodicean church.

    God bless you, all!

  2. The throne room is hard to imagine but definitely, the Lord is worthy of all praise. When I see the trees in fall with their glorious colours, I am amazed. I have even said to the Lord, “how did You ever decide on changing the colour of the leaves”? I wouldn’t have personally thought of that. Yesterday a friend called me and as we were speaking I saw what looked unusual in a 5 story high evergreen tree just outside my window. It was small & very bright. I told Amy it was a goldfinch but a closer look revealed black wings. I discovered (from my bird 🦅 book) that it was a Golden Oriole. Amazing. During this lockdown time, I have noticed more of God’s creativity than I ever had time to do before. Animal behaviour is another amazing view I’ve had recently (robin & rabbit together – twice)! He truly is indescribable & amazing. His care for us is beyond description. Hallelujah. Amen

    • That is a wonderful blessing Doreen, as I feel the same. Nature is the gift God gave us and is the first thing overlooked when the world gets too busy. He has drawn us back to that beauty and stillness during this time of retreat. Such an amazing gift! Hallelujah. Hallelujah, indeed! God bless you!! 🦃

    • Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers.
      Just going to phone my friend Lee we pray together most days. She will be 100 in October.
      Blessings to all Eleanor M

      • God bless your friend Lee; Thank You Lord for giving her 100 years on earth; WHAT A WONDERFUL BLESSING,, ENJOY THE CELEBRATIONS IN JESUS NAME AMEN AMEN AMEN

    • Yes Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms on this blog and the Maine Family Happy Mother’s Day!!!
      God Bless You All!!!

  3. Agreeing with all the saints. Happy Mother’s Day to Norma-Jean, Ann, Kathy, Ellen, Elaine, all their daughters, and all the female staff at 100 Huntley Street. God’s blessings on all mothers and women, today! ❤️

  4. Blessings Beverlee Kay
    I was wondering what the letters meant in yesterdays blog beside Psalm 46:10?
    You always post some very good items; I learn from you and others
    Bless all the moms and for those whose children don’t car about their moms;
    pray for the children and forgive them; the Lord knows what is in your heart; the children own their response
    Blessings to all\
    amen amen amen

    • Hello Sah. Happy Mother’s Day!

      Psalm 46:10 ESV (English Standard Version). Beside that was angel wings. You know there are different versions of the Bible and I usually choose the ESV or NIV (New International Version) or KJV (King James Version) or NKJV (New King James Version). Sometimes BSB (Berean Study Bible) or KJB (King James Bible) or ASV (American Standard Version) or RSVB (Revised Standard Version Bible).

      Pick a verse: John 11:35 (Jesus wept) and type biblehub beside it in the search bar John 11:35 comes up with all the different versions (20 or so) listed underneath one another. You compare the differences and choose which version you want to use.

      For emojies, just type emojies into the search bar, enter, and a page of emojies comes up to pick from; just drag over the one you want; when highlighted, press ctrl c to copy, then move the cursor into the spot you want to paste it and click ctrl v. Here is the coronavirus emojie, below

      ✨☺️⛰✌️⛱❣⛹⚖
      🦠 Coronavirus Emoji

      I gotta hit the hay; I am never up this late! God bless you! I hope you have a great sleep tonight, Shirley Ann. Nice to know your real name, not just your initials. Your name really suits you!😋

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