Providing Restoration, Healing and Hope

These verses are part of Jesus’ words to the 7 churches in the province of Asia. These particular words are directed to the church in Laodicea.

In my early days of Bible study, I understood these words differently than I do now. When I first read these words, I thought that “coldness” was related to heart-hardening and ‘hot” to being zealous for Jesus.

But after further study and understanding the context, I began to get better clarity on what Jesus was trying to say to this church. Laodicea is located between both hot pools of water and a cold rushing stream.

Many people traveled to Laodicea to use the hot pools for therapy. They also enjoyed the cool refreshing water that flowed from the mountains to the city. One for “healing” and one for “refreshment”.

The indictment on the Laodicean church was that they were neither a church providing the healing grace of Jesus nor were they a community offering spiritual refreshment. Jesus experienced them as “lukewarm” or tasteless.

They were ineffective in terms of offering the world the life and presence of Jesus. That is why later on in this speech, Jesus is standing outside of his own people and wanting to come in!

What can we learn from this harsh indictment? I believe we can learn that an emotionally and spiritually healthy church is one that is providing restoration, healing and hope for those who are hurting.

A healthy church also is practicing the presence of Jesus and providing refreshment for those seeking God. When we practice the way of Jesus by abiding in him and seeking to become like him,

then we can do the things he did. May we be a people that provide both soothing “waters” of healing and refreshing “waters” of God’s presence!

 Pastor Fred