READ: Rev. 3:18,19: I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
That Christ reveals His assessment to the church in Laodicea is grace. He corrects everyone He loves! Just as a father disciplines his child (Heb. 12:5-11). This is an important word for us when facing setbacks or being confronted with our sins. In that rebuke, beats the fatherly heart of our Savior! Let educators and church officials reprimand others and reveal their sins out of that love. Church discipline is also a matter of love. This includes the call for repentance.
Christ asks for an active stance for that: be zealous. That means showing works of a living faith. Let Christ govern your life again. Christ also points Laodicea toward the path to restoration. They must turn to Him. Let them buy from Him the true gold. That makes them truly rich. It refers to the genuine faith refined through the fire of testing (1 Pet. 1:7). Only Christ can give them that through His Spirit. Let them pray for it.
Also, they must buy white garments from Christ so that the shame of their sins is covered. It’s Christ’s righteousness imputed to them through genuine faith. Lastly, Christ offers eye salve so they can see: the discernment to realize how wretched they are on their own. They then turn out to be poor sinners; yet, the Lord wants to heal them by forgiving their sins.
How often do people refuse to embrace Christ and His treasures? How often do Christians refuse to repent? And how do we approach Christ? He Himself says in John 9:39: “I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Let us point each other toward the way to Him.
What price should you pay Christ for that gold?
Singing: Hymn 13:4,5 (1984), 17:4,5 (2014)