Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Revelation 3:7-13 (NRSV)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of the holy one, the true one,
who has the key of David,
who opens and no one will shut,
who shuts and no one opens:

“I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

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Reflect

I have always been a rule follower. I did not want to disappoint my teachers or my family. I was never a wild child, but I did have some wild “moments”—moments where the choices I made had me humorously saying (literally), “Jesus, don’t come back now!!!” In fact, I envisioned Jesus walking up to me in the club and, after greeting me, asking me why I was there! I was embarrassed; I did not want him to return to find me making the choices I was making.

Let’s fast forward a few years. I laugh thinking about those places and the choices I made when I was young and silly. In fact, one would think that with age, experience, and education, one would be wiser and more mature. But am I?

Jesus says in verse 11, “I am coming soon.” Sometimes we make choices that would have us choking if Jesus came and sat down beside us. We think we can read the book, watch the movie, spread the local gossip, play the game, etc. and our choices will be “our little secret.” We disregard whose we are and to whom we belong. We must make choices that align with the calling on our lives. God is the King…you are God’s child…you are of a royal lineage…live like it!

We must remember that there are no secrets: God knows our hearts. God knows our actions.

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Pray

Lord, for all the times I have willingly made choices that had me saying, “Jesus, don’t come back now!”—forgive me. Help me to persevere and make wise choices that reflect a God who loves and forgives, a God who shows mercy and grace. Thank you for being King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Amen.

Go with God.