DEAR CHURCH: The Tragedy of Self Sufficiency (Rev 3:14-22)

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 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. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 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. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Rev 3:14-22)

• Give trusted people to tell you the truth.
• Treat disproportionate and criticism as helpful data.
• Regularly compare your and self
• Give Jesus the to contradict your self-assessment.

• Where in your life has God’s blessing or your own success made it easier to depend on yourself rather than consciously depend on God?
• Who currently has enough proximity and permission in your life to tell you something about yourself that you may not want to hear—and how do you typically respond when they do?
• What criticism, recurring frustration, jealousy, defensiveness, or disproportionate emotional reaction might be revealing something in you that deserves closer examination rather than explanation?
• Would the people who know you best recognize the person everyone else sees? Where is there currently the greatest distance between your public self and your private self?
• If Jesus were to contradict one thing you currently believe about yourself—your motives, priorities, spiritual health, relationships, or dependence on Him—where would you be most resistant to hearing Him? What would repentance look like there?

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