Grace Notes // Letters to the Churches
To the Church of Laodicea, “Listen, Open, and Abide”
Written by Hannah Cohen
This week Pastor Holly taught on the Letter to the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14 - 22). She began her teaching with a bit of information on the city of Laodicea itself.
Laodicea was a commercial city-center known for its wealth. It shared a major trade route with Ephesus and was a banking center that minted coins. They were both making money and making money. One of their major exports was black wool - a type of wool that was plentiful in Laodicea, but rare in other areas. There was also a medical school that specialized in ophthalmology. Eye salves and ointments were made and sold. The topography was not particularly safe. They were vulnerable to both earthquakes and invading armies. They were located between a hot water source and a cold water source. Once the water traveled to Laodicea, it was lukewarm, bacteria-ridden, and downright dirty. But, they didn’t seem to care about any of these issues because they were wealthy and could rely on their financial stability.
The Church of Laodicea were under a particularly insidious form of persecution under the Roman Empire. The Emperor, who fancied himself a god, ordered soldiers to knock on the doors of Christians. The soldiers would ask the inhabitants “are you a follower of Jesus?” If the homeowner answered “yes”, them and their entire household was taken away and killed, often in entertainment venues. If the homeowner said “no”, they would have to name someone who was. Then, the soldiers would find that person and, without asking if they were Jesus followers, take them and their entire family to be killed.
Pastor Holly then read aloud the letter. The context that she outlined unveiled important details showing that the heart behind the letter was disciplining, yet loving. One such detail was the “lukewarm” nature of the Christians of Laodicea. Pastor Holly explained that Jesus was saying, “Hot or cold, I just want you to be at the source. Like the water you are drinking, it is actually making you spiritually sick”.
“Who said ‘fine’ was good enough?”
- Pastor Holly
The Christians at Laodicea started to believe that in their search for self-sufficiency they had walked away from their source of true sufficiency - Jesus Christ. “Fine” is not God’s heart for us. Deep connection and reliance is God’s heart for us.
PROCESSING
Are there things that we have put in our lives that we have used to justify getting further and further from God?
Do you feel like you can hear Jesus’ voice? If not, pray that your ears would be opened.
Have you opened the door to Jesus? If not, pray that Holy Spirit reveal the doors that need to be opened.
Do you abide with Christ? If not, take five minutes and be still with the Lord, noting the places He might be directing your attention.
IN THE WORD
Revelation 3:14 - 22
John 10:27
Jeremiah 33:3