Author：Karen Narrator：Liying
I finished studying the letters to the seven churches in Revelation today. The letters to the last two churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea, offer stark contrast. The church in Philadelphia received the commendation for its steadfast faith in the midst of a community that despised them. The church in Laodicea earned the LORD's rebuke for being lukewarm, a complacent and apathetic community.
The LORD set before the Philadelphia church an open door no one could shut. Jesus opens the door of heaven for even the weakest believer who has little strength but trusts in Him. Jesus promised the Philadelphians that one day their persecutors would fall at their feet and acknowledge Jesus' love for His people. He sovereignly and personally preserves His people in their suffering.
At Laodicea, the LORD stood at the church door and asked to be admitted. Jesus promised restored intimacy if the door opened to Him. The LORD intends to be central in His people's lives.
Jesus reassured the Laodicean church His rebuke was evidence of His love. The picture of Him standing at the door knocking demonstrates His relentless pursuit of His people's heart.
What is your heart chasing after? I know my wishing list could be a catalog with infinite pages. Could this also be true for you? But do you see that everything this world offers will rust, wilt or decay. In the end, none of them will offer satisfaction and peace to your hungry and thirsty soul.
The LORD calls you to turn your back on lesser attractions, to fight and defeat the pressures of the world and the sin that remains within you. He delights to restore the repentant. He is able to change even deeply engrained patterns of sin. He can take someone who repents from the lowest depth to the highest heights. And He does not allow you to value this world's tinsel more than eternity' treasure. He will definitely not be satisfied with a casual, compromised relationship with you. He wants to remain as your first love forever.
The LORD gives great promises to those who depend on Him and His power to be victorious. He reprimanded Laodicea more harshly than any church. But I noticed that He gave this church the greatest promise, to sit with Him on His throne. This is an unimaginable privilege.
Can you picture yourself to sit with the LORD on His throne? It is not the naturally strong or self-sufficient who share in the LORD's future reign. The LORD made this promise to all who hear His voice and turn to Him.
"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Revelation2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22.
This verse repeats seven times.
我刚刚读完了启示录里七封写给教会的信，最后两封写给非拉铁非教会和老底嘉教会的信，形成了鲜明的对比。非拉铁非教会因为在鄙视他们的主流社会中持守信仰，受到主的赞许。老底嘉教会因为不冷不热，是一个自满且冷漠的群体，被主训斥。
主耶稣给非拉铁非教会设立了一扇门，这扇门开了就没人能关上。主给软弱至极，但是还肯相信祂的人，敞开了天堂的大门。主明确告诉非拉铁非教会，有一天，迫害他们的人会在他们的脚前下拜，承认他们是被主所深爱的子民。主掌管万有，亲自保守忍受苦难的子民。
主站在老底嘉教会的门外叩门，要求进去。主耶稣应许，如果给祂开门，让祂进去，祂就与他们重建亲密的关系，主定意要成为祂子民生活的中心。
耶稣对老底嘉教会保证说，祂对他们的责备，是对他们爱的证明。祂站在门外敲门的场景展示出来的，是祂为了得到子民之心锲而不舍。
我们的心都在追求什么呢？把我自己期望的东西列个单子的话，不知道要用多少张纸，你的情况是不是也如此呢？这个世界所能提供给我们的一切，都会长锈，衰败，腐烂。到最后，没有一样可以给我们饥渴之心灵提供满足和平安。
主呼唤我们回转，不再追求那些不值得珍视的东西，祂要求我们战胜外面世界和内心罪性带给我们的压力。祂喜悦重建那些肯悔改的人，有大能改变我们根深蒂固的犯罪模式，把悔改的人从无底深渊提升到最高之处。祂不喜悦我们爱这世界上转瞬即逝的东西过于永恒的财宝，祂绝不会满足于和我们之间仅仅建立泛泛之交，祂要成为我们永远的挚爱。
主最终应许那些依靠祂和祂大能的人，让他们成为得胜者。祂对老底嘉教会的斥责，比对其他教会都严厉，但祂给老底嘉教会的应许也是最大的，祂应许他们得胜者可以和祂一同坐在宝座上。这真是无法想象的特权啊！
你能想象自己和主一同坐在宝座上吗？不是那些天生的强者，或靠自己的人，将来与主一同作王。主的这个应许，是给所有听见祂的声音就归向祂的人。
“圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！” 启2：7,11,17,29 和启3：6,13,22。
这同样的经节重复了七次。
