Unfinished Business - Revelation 3:1-6

The Church at Sardis received very little of a compliment.   They were a lifeless Church.   In the right hand of Christ was the seven stars (or pastors) and in His left hand the seven-fold Spirit.   What was needed was that they would come together as a Spirit-filled Church. [1]

The verbs give us an insight into Christ's alarm to them: wake up … strengthen … remember … obey … repent.   This was all because our Lord “. . . found [their] deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.” (Revelation 3:2, NIV).  Contextually unfinished deeds are those that simply show on the outside but not on the inside (“. . . you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, NIV))

Again, God always has His remnant.  He writes, “Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4, NIV).

Part of the response required of the Church of Sardis was "to remember."  “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” (Revelation 3:3, NIV).  In remembering they will wake-up and repent.  

I read this blog this morning:  Six Ways to Look Godly While Not Growing which was the second excerpt. His first was this one: Six Ways to Look Godly While Not Growing in 2013.

I have "unfinished work."  It is easy to put on the Christian face and express the Christian grace and not have that reality on the inside.  It is easy to be one thing in public and another in private.  It is easy to be a hypocrite.

Father, hypocrisy is a sin.  Hypocrisy is a deceptive sin.  Hypocrisy is deceptive and defeating.  The solution is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be who I am.  Forgive me and cleanse me.  Grant me the grace to be the real thing: genuine and transparent.  Grant me the grace to be real.   

 

 

 

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1. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (54). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.