Judgment (Rev. 2:16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

02/24/2002

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Judgment

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelations 2:16

 

            Message of the verse:  16 Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.  (NLT)   16  ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.  (NAS95)

            As stated in an earlier SD the reference to the sharp two-edged sword was different to that of the sword that is spoken about in Eph. 6, which is part of the Spiritual Armor.  Dr. Macarthur writes that this sword means judgment and Christ is the One who judges His Church as seen in chapters two and three of Revelations.  There are other references of judgment that have come upon the Church, for instance Acts 5 shows the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira for lying and there is judgment upon the Church recorded in 1Cor. 11, where Paul talked about some of the believers who slept because of wrong practices while taking the Lord’s Supper.  It seems to me that these believers at Pergamos were lazy about judging those who had come into their midst and were causing trouble.  If they would have judged those who were doing wrong in their church then the Lord would not have to judge them along with the others who claimed to be believers, who were causing trouble.  You cannot compromise like Balaam did or you may be judged like Balaam was judged.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The fact that Jesus Christ is judging His Church gives me incentive to follow His teaching and not to compromise.

 

The Word of God has brought both a challenge and conviction to my heart.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not upon my own understanding, in all of my ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct my ways.