It took almost 10 minutes to read the above chapters. In the messages that Jesus sends out to the churches there are some very stern warnings, and some very uplifting words. Jesus is speaking these words as the Lord of the universe. Sometimes we soften our image of Jesus into an all-loving Teddy-bear. But that is very far from the true picture of Jesus’ nature. He is a man motivated by love for his people, all people. But we need to realize that he is still Lord of all. The two extremes are harmonized at the cross. Yet it is in the shadow of where Jesus made his ultimate sacrifice that he calls out to each Christian to make the same sacrifice; giving up the wants and even needs for self in order to please and glorify God first. Jesus’ warnings to the 4 churches in chapter two are a “fleshing out” of the incarnate message he presented, that Matthew recorded in his gospel; chapter 6 verse 33:
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Stuart
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