I'm back.
Last week was rather crazy. I went out-of-state on Wednesday, returning home late, late Thursday. Then, I got up on Friday and was in the car traveling for much of the day. Friday was not to be outdone by Saturday, which found me again on the road, traveling to a social event in the far NW corner of GA, and the evening was capped off by my driving to mother's for the evening and church on Sunday.
So, today is the first day out of the past 5 that I've not been in the car for an extended period. It is nearly 11:00 and I am still in my nightgown. I make no apologies, lol!
It is good to dive back into the Word after the events of recent days. In returning to Colossians 2, I'm perched on the first verse for this morning's meditation.
1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Laodicea....do you remember that name?
Colossians was written in approximately 60 A.D. The book of Revelation, where we find extensive information about the church at Laodicea, was written around 95 A.D. Some 30 years passed between these two scriptural mentions.
When Paul alludes to the Laodiceans in the book of Colossians, there is no hint of rebuke or condemnation. He states that he is battling for them, in the Lord! Unfortunately, it appears that in the intervening 35 years, the Laodiceans somehow lost their fervor. Here is what Jesus said of them in Revelation 3 - - -
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV)
Often, it begins with some kind of conflict in the church. This should not surprise anyone. If a church is doing what the Body of Christ, the Bride, is supposed to do, Satan will oppose it. Every.Single.Time. The enemy knows that his time is short, and so, he wastes no opportunity.
When that inevitable conflict comes, it comes from either outside the church or from within it. Regardless of the place of origin, if the church is healthy, they band together to fight for righteousness, until the fight is over. Sometimes it seems they triumph and other times it seems they do not. I say "it seems", because that is the world's perspective. If a church will recognize attack and respond scripturally, there is no losing, no matter how things appear to the world.
Unfortunately, some see an attack as a sign of the church's weakness. That is not necessarily true. To reiterate, attacks WILL come, regardless of a church's overall health.
There are generally various responses to these attacks.
1. There are those who will "cut and run" at the first sign of trouble. They abandon the church.
2. There are those who remain, but refuse to get more than minimally involved. These members of the Body have often been badly hurt in similar attacks and are too wounded to fight. They either sit passively on the sidelines, or they participate in the conflict through prayer.
3. There are some who will fight for the truth, to the end. These warriors believe that, without truth, the benefits of unity and peace are meaningless. Mature believers will do this in a loving way, but they will stand strong nonetheless, even in the face of being labeled "unloving" or "troublemakers".
4. There are those who place "church unity" above all else. For these members of the Body, the theme is "unity at all costs", and regardless of the merit of the conflict, they will counsel all members of the Body to "look away", to "go along to get along" to "move on" . These members often see the local church as an organization that should be very congenial with the world, that it should "fit in" and not cause controversy.
When churches refuse to engage in spiritual battles...
When they just float along amicably with a godless culture in the name of a false, weak "love"...
When they just lay down and concede spiritual ground...
When there is little difference between the way the members live and the way the world operates...
then a church begins to grow cold.
On the bright side, going to battle together can make a church stronger in the Lord!
Battling together for truth and righteousness:
Produces true unity of purpose...
Increases the faith of the members...
Brings about spiritual victories...
(and) Advances the kingdom of our Savior.
The church becomes "gold refined by fire" (Rev. 3:18). The battle is often not "pretty", but rather is often painful.
In the end, though, the church becomes "piping hot" for God.
Father, "grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not man nor Thee." May we never shirk our responsibilities to each other or to our Lord. May we never shrink back from battles with the enemy.
May all be done for the sake of Truth, of the purity of the Bride, in love. In Jesus' name, amen.
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