Letter to the Laodicean Church # 2

Letter to the Laodicean Church # 2

"I counsel you," He says. He is called, you remember, "the Counselor." " counsel you" - I, who know all, all your state, and all your need - I, who cannot be deceived - I, the Counselor, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve - that you may see."

The lukewarm thought they had all this before: riches and clothing and sight - but they had none of it. Now the Lord Jesus bids them seek it in truth, and seek it of Him.

Sight - to see themselves in their wretched and helpless state; the enlightening and convincing of their hearts by the Holy Spirit; true riches, "the unsearchable riches of Christ."

"White clothing," the wedding garment which He gives to every true believer - robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

But may we indeed hope to obtain all this? Yes, for He who gives the advice - is also He in whom all fullness dwells. He sends us nowhere else for it. It is to be had of no one else. He bids us to seek it from Him. Will He not then bestow it?

But He says, "I counsel you to buy from Me." But we have nothing to pay. We thought we had before. But now we have learned, for He Himself has taught us that we are poor. He tells us to buy - and we have nothing to offer Him. How shall we obtain? We are to buy on gospel terms, and they are these: "Ho! everyone that thirsts, come to the waters! And he who has no money - come, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy  wine and milk without money and without price!" This is gospel buying - these are gospel terms: "without money and without price," the very terms that are suited to the poor, the only terms on which we could ever buy. Thanks be to God, that He bids us buy thus!

Has what the gracious Saviour has said, seemed sharp and stern? He would not have us think of Him so. "As many as I love," says He, "I rebuke and chasten - be zealous therefore, and repent." It was not in anger that He spoke - but in love. Even when He said, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!" - even then, it was but that the lukewarm might have his eyes opened to his state and might be zealous and repent. He sends this message to us in love. His rebukes and chastenings are but the dealings of His love, to lead us to Himself and to happiness.

Do His words seem sharp? Yet there is love and faithfulness in them - they are much needed - He will not leave us in a cold and lifeless state. Do His chastenings and His dealings, seem painful? Is the sickness sore? Is the trial long? Yet all is in love still. "As many as I love - I rebuke and chasten."

Gracious Saviour! Teach us...
to know Your love,
to hear Your voice,
to feel Your hand.

We thank You for every faithful warning and for every loving chastisement. We thank You for all that You do toward us - to humble us, to teach us, and to draw us in heart to You. We thank You for Your gracious counsel and for Your free offers. We come to You according to Your Word. may our eyes be anointed, that we may see! Give us of Your unsearchable riches! May our sins be washed away in Your precious blood - and may we stand before You in pure white robes! Lord, give us Your Holy Spirit - deepen our sense of sin - show us what we are - increase our faith. Take from us all lukewarmness - may we no longer be neither cold nor hot. Touch our conscience, impress our hearts, make us truly in earnest. Help us by Your grace to be zealous and to repent.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!" (Revelation 3:20-22).

This is the conclusion of the epistle to the Laodicean Church. The Lord Jesus Christ in the former part sharply rebukes that church for lukewarmness, because they were "neither cold nor hot." Now He ends with these gracious words of invitation.

~Francis Bourdillon~

(continued with # 3)