JMD Devotional 150 Revelation 3:17-22 False Ambiance
Revelation 3:17-22 For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.
He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
Jesus evidently did not ascribe to Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". In polite company we would say, "Oh-the audacity!" at having our faults pointed out, exposed, and being put on the spot. Though multitudes followed Him, they were fickle, and the same crowds turned and cried, "Crucify Him!" Even some of the Twelve tried to use Him for their own advantage. He had to rebuke those closest to himself at times, and I am sure it (at least temporarily) put distance and a strain on those relationships. I am sure that Jesus wanted to be loved and accepted like any other person; but love and duty required confrontations that made people retreat and reject Him. (It would have been unloving not to point out the eternal consequences of sin in their lives). Hundreds of years earlier Isaiah had a picture of Jesus that you don't see touted very much:
Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Dear God,
The 'burden' of knowing the truth weighs heavily on social interaction and relationships. Even knowing what I know, I still try to keep up appearances, so I cannot really point a finger at others.
I just know that I belong to another camp that I cannot see from here. Help me to find comfort in the life and character of Jesus Christ; His patient endurance and the constant sacrifices He made for the welfare of others. Observers might have said he was a lonely man, even in a crowd; but your presence was enough to keep Him company; He said, "My Father is always with me". Please be enough for me, too.
Amen
All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)
If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
my daily devotional, please forward.
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Short, concise, thought-provoking.
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http://SaintJamesPoetry.blogspot.com
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http://jamesezadventures.blogspot.com/
He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).
Jesus evidently did not ascribe to Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People". In polite company we would say, "Oh-the audacity!" at having our faults pointed out, exposed, and being put on the spot. Though multitudes followed Him, they were fickle, and the same crowds turned and cried, "Crucify Him!" Even some of the Twelve tried to use Him for their own advantage. He had to rebuke those closest to himself at times, and I am sure it (at least temporarily) put distance and a strain on those relationships. I am sure that Jesus wanted to be loved and accepted like any other person; but love and duty required confrontations that made people retreat and reject Him. (It would have been unloving not to point out the eternal consequences of sin in their lives). Hundreds of years earlier Isaiah had a picture of Jesus that you don't see touted very much:
Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Dear God,
The 'burden' of knowing the truth weighs heavily on social interaction and relationships. Even knowing what I know, I still try to keep up appearances, so I cannot really point a finger at others.
I just know that I belong to another camp that I cannot see from here. Help me to find comfort in the life and character of Jesus Christ; His patient endurance and the constant sacrifices He made for the welfare of others. Observers might have said he was a lonely man, even in a crowd; but your presence was enough to keep Him company; He said, "My Father is always with me". Please be enough for me, too.
Amen
All (but*) quotes are from The Amplified Bible, published by
the Lockman Foundation. (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
*New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
**Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. (Eugene Peterson's easy-to-read, contemporary Scripture translation)
If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
my daily devotional, please forward.
jamesdinsmore_32907@yahoo.com
Short, concise, thought-provoking.
More features:
http://SaintJamesPoetry.blogspot.com
http://recoverydevotional.blogspot.com/
http://jamesezadventures.blogspot.com/
posted by James M. Dinsmore at 7:15 PM
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