January 13, Revelation 3
The ability to see ourselves clearly is important in any sphere of life. You and I have blind spots that prevent accurate personal assessment of our strengths and weaknesses. The world’s most successful athletes have trainers who scrutinize their performance and help them maximize their potential. World leaders and top business executives rely on trusted advisors to critique their speeches and plans because they realize the limitations of personal evaluation.
Jesus told one church they were dead, even though they had a reputation for being alive. He exhorted them to wake up and strengthen their incomplete works. If we’ve followed Jesus for some time, we may be tempted to relax and rely on our reputation instead of carefully monitoring our present spiritual condition. If we’ve forgotten what God told us, we need to remember. If we’ve stopped doing what he told us to do, we need to repent.
Jesus told another church he had set open doors before them, knew their limited power and guaranteed to keep them in the hour of trial. Remembering the source of our strength for doing what we’re supposed to do is an important part of this self-analysis. It’s one thing to realize we’re not able in and of ourselves to meet the opportunities set before us. It’s quite another to realize that the one who creates the opportunities also enables us to go through the doors he puts in our paths, strengthening us to achieve and succeed. God is in control of the situation, and no adversary is able to overrule his arrangements. This plan
creates a healthy blend of confidence and humility—we know we can win, but not by our own power or cleverness.
When we lose that balance, we may crash into despair or become prideful. The last church Jesus addressed had erred on the side of pride. They believed they were doing fine and had no need of anything. But Jesus said they were wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. He offered to meet their needs, but they had to humble themselves and see themselves as they really were before they would respond to his offer.
The Lord didn’t offer these insights into the true condition of these churches because he despised them. His reproved and rebuked them because he loved them. He described himself as standing at the door knocking, seeking admission and fellowship to those who are willing to hear and open the door to let him in.
You’ve probably seen William Holman Hunt’s painting, “The Light of The World,” based on these words. In the painting, Jesus is knocking on a closed door with no outside knob, seeking to bring his light into the darkened room behind the door. It may be easier to debate the allegorical significance of every detail of the painting than to acknowledge it depicts a scene that plays out at the door of every heart. Have you heard the knock? Have you opened the door?
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—January 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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