The True Witness (Rev. 3:14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/23/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  The True Witness

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Revelations 3:14

 

            Message of the verse:  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:” (NAS95) “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation:” (NLT)

            “The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related—in fact, almost identical—to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence.” (HMM)

            This is the first part of the description of the description that Christ gives of Himself in this letter to the church at Laodicea.  Christ goes on to call Himself the faithful and the true Witness, and that is exactly what this church needed to hear was the truth, for this church was surely blinded to the truth about the way that it was operating.  He thing goes on to say that He is the Beginning of the creation of God, and this does not mean that Christ was a created being, for that is not what the word means.  “The person or thing that commences the first person or thing in a series, the leader.”  To be sure Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and that is how He became human, but He was with the Father from all of eternity and has always been, and will always be God the Son, the second person in the godhead. 

            It is also interesting that Christ uses things from the city in His letters to these seven churches, for instance Christ will talk about being blind and this city manufactured eye save, and was even famous for it.  Christ is still using things to teach spiritual lessons, and so churches need to listen to what the Spirit has to say to them.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Jesus Christ described Himself as being the Truth in John 14:1, and He is also described as the Truth in this verse, so it is good to know what (Who) the truth is.  By knowing this I do not have to fear that Christ of His Word can ever take me in the wrong direction, that He and His Word, through His Spirit can guide me into all truth so that I can live a life that is pleasing to Christ, my Savior and Lord.

 

The Word of God was again a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:   Continue to trust the Lord each day to lead me, and to make me available to do what He wants me to do.