In Revelation there is no commendation for Laodicea.

Laodicea was close to Colossae and is mentioned several times in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. It was destroyed by an earthquake, AD. 62, and rebuilt by its wealthy citizens without the help of the state. It was founded by the Seleucid Antiochus II in the 3rd century BC, and called after his wife Laodice. For all its wealth, it could produce neither the healing power of hot water, like its neighbor Hierapolis, nor the refreshing power of cold water to be found at Colossae, but merely lukewarm water, useful only as an emetic. The church was charged with a similar uselessness: it was self-sufficient, rather than half-hearted. Like the city, it thought it had ‘need of nothing’. In fact it was spiritually poor, naked and blind, and needed ‘gold’, ‘white garments’ and ‘eye salve’ more effective than its bankers, clothiers and doctors could supply.[3]

The Church in Philadelphia was a small Church without many resources yet God opened doors for them to spread the Gospel. What a great example this is for us to be satisfied with and use what God has given us.

 God is going to write on these people his name the name of his city and his new name. I like to think of this in modern terms. God is going to give them his name and address and make them a friend on  Facebook. Think about that with his name and address we could visit him personally any time we wanted. He’s telling us where he lives because He wants us to be His guests. We can stop by any time. As His friends on Facebook we can communicate with him anytime day or night and always know what He’s doing and let Him know what we are doing. What peace and joy there would be in our lives with this close connection to God.  I like to use my Facebook type communication with God throughout the day. When something good happens, a thank you. When something bad happens, a please help.   I guess I use my visits to his house at times when I want more than just a simple please or thank you. In my visits to his house I get to receive some of his bread and wine and I’m strengthened by his other guests.

Sardis

The people at this Church are depicted as a very generous group. God sees their good deeds but says they have a reputation for being alive but are dead. Could it be that they are dead because their good deeds are all done for show or for making them feel good about themselves? When good deeds are done are they done in a spirit of love? We can do good deeds out of love for those we are doing the deed for or because we love Christ and know that this is what he would do and what he wants us to do.

When we’re thinking about doing good deeds, either on our own or with a group, do we begin by praying or do we just jump in? I know that in many of the meetings of Christian groups that I participate in the tendency is to jump right in. At the end of the meeting thanking God for being with us at the meeting is even less often thought of than the prayers at the beginning of the meeting. What about the rest of our day our work, play, exercise, relaxation do we ask God to be with us in any or all of these? Do we look at these activities as just things (deeds) we do during the day or do we think about doing them in a way that will honor God?

Here’s a challenge. Try starting everything you do for a month with prayer even a simple God help me prayer and see how things go for you. And if you want to get really bold end each task thanking God.  

                                                Pergamum

There’s a symbol in John’s address to the Church at Pergamum that I think merits some deeper thought.

A white stone with a new name written on it is given to those who overcome. If you think about it giving a name to anything gives it more significance. Growing up if you had a favorite toy I bet it had a name weather it was a doll or a car or truck. I know I had a favorite toy car that I called super car (not real original). When I talked about other cars or trucks they would be the yellow one or the blue one but when we talked about my favorite it was super car. The Bible tells us that Adam gave names to all the animals which meant they then had significance in God’s kingdom. Think about to having a conversation about ants. If you are just talking in general about ants all ants could have the same name ants. However if you’re talking about your house being infested you might narrow it down to carpenter ants because they are currently more significant than all the others. When a baby is born and given a name, generally after much deliberation by its parents, it then has a place of significance. It‘s given a birth certificate and, at least in the U.S. , recorded with the state. I’ve heard of cultures that think the naming is so significant that they didn’t name a baby until it was two years old so they could see what the baby’s name should be.

So, being given a name by God is not an insignificant event it says that we are significant in God’s sight not just some other soul among the many who will be with God in eternity. I know we can’t treat large numbers of people as if they are each significant but God can. It‘s a little concerning to think God might give us names based on our lives here on earth. I’d hate to go through eternity with a name like Lazy Boy or backslider or worse. But, I’ll take whatever just to be eternally in God’s presence.