Today, Monday February 07
“I Know Your Works…” Revelation 2:2-3
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.”
Jesus has commissioned the Apostle John to write seven different letters to seven different churches in Asia Minor. These churches needed to be encouraged as they were facing great persecution but they also needed to be rebuked. I believe by looking at the first words that Jesus said to each of the churches, we can find a great application for us today, both for our churches but also for each of us personally.
Every letter to every church started out with the words, “I know your works….”. Seven times we hear Jesus saying, “I know”, “I know”, “I know”, “I know”, “I know”, “I know”, “I know”! This should capture our attention!
Jesus knew what was going on in each of these churches. He said I know who you are. I know where you are. I know what you are doing. I know what is going on inside of you!
We need to know that Jesus knows His church! He knows it better than anyone else. These church might very well represent seven stages of seven periods of church history but the specific message that we should take from these letters is the Jesus knows them each very well!
We love to sing the song, “He Knows My Name” and that is true, but we also need to better understand that Jesus knows everything that is going on in my life. He knows every aspect of our life! He knows what going on behind the closed doors in the church and He know what is going on in the inner recesses of our hearts!
Jesus not only knows our works that we are doing in His church, He know why we are doing them. He knows the motives behind the works. This should greatly encourage us but at the same time cause us to look deep into our hearts and remind ourselves that we can’t hide anything from the eyes of the Lord. We should be encouraged and comforted by the fact that Jesus knows what we are dealing with in our lives right now. He knows if we have cancer before the doctor does. He knows if we have a blockage in our heart before the cardiologist does. He knows if we are about to get covid!
Jesus knows what’s happened in our family behind closed doors! He knows the very thoughts and intents of our hearts! He knows our secret sins! This should humble us and cause us to repent! But today we should be greatly encouraged that even still when He sees and knows all of our sins and failures, He loves us unconditionally and waits patiently for us to come to the Mercy seat and seek forgiveness! He still cares for us and is waiting to help us with every need we have in our lives!
These letters also make it clear that Jesus is able to discern the true genuine followers of Christ from the outward professors who are in the church. Just because you are a member of a church does not automatically make you a member of God’s forever family in Christ. And Jesus know this about us too!
Today, if we will come to the Mercy Seat to find forgiveness we will not have to face our short comings and failures at the Judgment Seat later. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart right now about something that Jesus knows about you and that you should ask for cleansing and forgiveness for?
Remember, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
God bless!
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