Christ is Always in Control (Rev. 3:9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/18/2005

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Christ is always in control

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 3:9

 

            Message of the verse:  “Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.”  (NAS95)  “Look! I will force those who belong to Satan—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.”  (NLT)

            The first obstacle for this church was seen in verse eight, and that was they were weak, but they chose to obey Christ’s Word.  The second obstacle is seen in this verse, and that is the Jews, who were only Jews in the flesh, and not of Spiritual Israel as Paul describes in Romans 2:27-29.   “27  In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will be much better off than you Jews who are circumcised and know so much about God’s law but don’t obey it.  28  For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision.  29  No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people.” 

            It seems from God’s Word that the Jewish race of people will be held accountable for the things that they have been given, yet not understood, and other “religious” people who think that they are doing the right thing, but are not, will also be accountable for there miss beliefs and miss actions, and miss understanding of the truth. 

            This church at Philadelphia had little strength, and opposition from the Jews, yet Christ gave it an open door to preach the Gospel, probably because they held true to the Word of God, and because of that Christ promised that one day He will cause those who were giving them the opposition to bow down at their feet, and then they will realize that they were wrong, and that the church was right.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord in this latest trial that He has seen fit to send my way, that He will work it out for my good and for His glory.