Jaspoon

Rev 3:1-6, Rev 2:8-11

I was reflecting on few passage of Revelation. One question I was pondering was...

If God decided not to show up at your church next Sunday, would anyone notice?

Would He be missed? Would the congregation immediately enter a time of corporate soul-searching and prayer to find out what was wrong? Or would you be able to go merrily on your way as if nothing had happened?

Many churches continue their routine business week after week completely unaware that the Master of the house is not even there. It is like attending a party and having a great time but never even seeing or speaking to the host.

This was the problem of the church in Sardis . Christ, the Master of the house, had no words of commendation for Sardis because He found nothing commendable there. He told them, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” No doubt the church in Sardis was very busy. They probably had a full range of ministries and services to their community.. Undoubtedly their worship was proper and correct and perhaps even lively and entertaining. They had a good reputation and may even have had money and prestige in the city.

The church in Sardis had the form of godliness; the appearance of life. They thought they were alive and well - the rest of the city thought they were alive and well. Their only problem was that the Holy Spirit had departed and they never saw Him go. They were dead and didn't even know it!

Contrast this with the church in Smyrna , which received no condemnation from the Lord; only commendation. Of this congregation Jesus said simply, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)...” Whatever the Smyrnan Christians lacked in material wealth they made up for in spiritual riches. They may have been poor in the things that the world values but they were rich where it counted—they had the King!

Where does your church fit? Sardis ? Smyrna ? Or somewhere in between? Even more important, where do you fit? God has this incredible idea that church is about Him. Yet so often we try to make it about us . We try to turn church into our own private “bless–me” club. Our entire focus centers on how many chills, thrills and goose bumps we get and on how well we are entertained. Rarely do we even think to ask what our King wants.

It doesn't matter how big your church is or how rich. It doesn't matter how many programs and ministries you have. It doesn't matter how exciting your worship is or how eloquent your pastor. Without the King you have nothing!

Don't settle for artificial worship and dead formalism either for myself or for my church. I have a choice: Sardis or Smyrna . Which am I? Which do I want to be?

posted by jaspoon @ 10:31 AM