God’s love

God’s love

Bible: Revelation 3:14-22

Reading

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent (V.19).

It’s easy to think of God as a big, angry school teacher, looking for anyone to step out of line so He can land them in detention. But that’s not what we see in the book of Revelation in His letters to the seven churches. They show God’s loving concern for people, even the ones who are messing up. Jesus began many of these letters by talking about the good things His people had done. This shows us that when we do what is good and right, He sees and is pleased with us. But Jesus is also concerned about the things we struggle with. His positive words in these letters were often followed by clear instructions for change. And while it’s not nice to hear Him say, “Yet I hold this against you” (REVELATION 2:4; SEE VV.14,20), it’s really important that He shows us what needs to be changed in our lives to keep us from going the wrong way. This brings us to the point repentance. When God told these churches to repent (to turn away from selfishness and back to following Him), He was showing His love for Christians who struggle. His goal was not to bring them down but to bring them back to a close walk with Him. And don’t miss the fact that each letter ends with a specific promise for the “victorious” (V.7). God wants to celebrate and reward those who live in a way that pleases Him. What’s He saying to you today?

REPENTANCE BRINGS US BACK TO GOD.

                                      Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries