Are You Letting God In?

“So then, because you are lukewarm…” The Laodiceans’ hearts deflate, their smiles fade, and their heads bow causing their eyes to fixate on the ground below. The Revelation 3:16 text does not provide us with this detail, but we all know the emotions and physical impact of hearing someone we love tell us something about ourselves contrary to our perception of self. The words fall heavy.

How would you respond to Jesus if these were His words to you? Think about the emotions, thoughts, and physical reactions you would experience.

A wise friend once told me, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.” The Laodiceans aimed for excellence but landed on lukewarm works. How do we know this?

Revelation 3:17, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’” describes how the Laodiceans perceived themselves. Wealthy. Sufficient. Excellent.

We can relate to trying to give our best work in our home or career. Jesus knew the hearts of the Laodiceans and their true desire to do works pleasing to Him, therefore His words were personal. Remember, these were people who professed Christ as their Savior, no different from us. As a result, Jesus provided the Laodiceans with constructive feedback on their work.

Revelation 3:17 continues, “and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” Jesus’ perception of the Laodiceans. A stark contrast.

How did the Laodicean’s perception of themselves differ greatly from Jesus’ view? Deception.

Deception is defined as the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. It often takes a third party to help the deceived recognize their deception especially when the deceiver and the deceived are the same person! Jesus moved by His love for the Laodiceans provided this third-party service to them in the hope they would receive it with zeal unto repentance (Revelation 3:19). However, the deceived need to hear, receive, and do the feedback provided to move from deception to reality.

Scripture provides followers of Christ with three practical tips to allow God into our journey from lies to truth.

Tip 1: Reflect on God’s Word.

James, a bondservant of God, writes to Jewish believers and encourages them to not be deceived about their works for Christ. James offers the believers a time of reflection (James 1:21-27).

Notice the actions James encourages the believers to take for their souls to experience salvation from deception, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

Tip 2: Acknowledge your heart’s posture towards God’s word.

According to James 1:21 the heart attitude of meekness or humility allows us to hear the word of God. Revelation 3:17 key phrases illustrate the lack of humility the Laodiceans professed. Pride opens the door for deception. Let us learn from our Laodicean church family what key phrase to keep out of our vocabulary “I am…” James states this concept, “If any among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (James 1:26) Useless or as Jesus put it lukewarm.

Tip 3: Put God’s word into practice.

James gives us insight into how this prideful attitude takes root within Christ believers, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25)

According to James 1:23, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.” James encourages us to look at the word of God, continue in it, not forget it, and do it.

Bride of Christ, are you letting God in? Jesus offers us the same invitation of reflection He provided to the Laodiceans. He invites us to look in the mirror of His Word and acknowledge our heart’s posture towards it. Do you detect acceptance or resistance? Are you allowing His Word to refine you, as gold refined in the fire? Are you storing His Word in your heart not to forget it, but rather wash in it unto Christ-likeness? Are you putting His Word into practice or relying on your understanding and habits? As followers of Christ let us allow, scripture, Jesus’ perception of His Overcomer (Laodicea), to encourage us to open the door and sup with Him through our minute-by-minute choice to wait on the promise of the Holy Spirit and be a hearer and doer of the Word of God. Be not deceived. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.