1“And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write:
“He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things:
“I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
14“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:
“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:
15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing,’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me. 21He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”
An Open Invitation
Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree
One of my earliest memories is of my mother singing a sweet little song to me about this story. It went something like,
“Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.”
I always identified with Zacchaeus because he was little, and so was I. It made me feel like if I could climb up the Chinese tallow tree in our yard, I might catch a glimpse of Jesus. The whole story is beautiful. Luke introduces him to us as a “chief tax collector,” and that tells us a great deal. He was a wealthy and influential individual. Luke tells us that a crowd gathered around Jesus, and Zacchaeus wanted to see Him. The problem was that he was short. So, he dashed ahead and climbed up in a Sycamore tree to get a good look at Jesus. I think it’s interesting that Luke records the fact that Zacchaeus was a “short man.” The only other instance I recall in the Bible where someone’s small stature is a matter of focus is when Samuel hints at David’s size, telling us that he was likely shorter than all of his brothers. The scripture tells us what is essential to God.
“7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 WEB)
Jesus came up to the tree that day and called Zacchaeus down, letting him know that He would stay at his house that day. He invited Himself! Why did He do this? Because way up the road, before He ever got there, He had gazed into Zacchaeus’ heart. Zacchaeus was in search of something more, and he had even climbed a tree to find it. He had wealth and status, but something was missing, and it was Jesus. I think this story tells us that Jesus doesn’t look at mere outward appearances, but He looks into each of our hearts. He is looking for those who are searching for Him. And when He finds us, He invites Himself in to dine with us, and we with Him. He is standing at the door of your heart today. He is knocking (Rev 3:20). Will you invite Him in today? If you do, He promises to enter in, dine with you, and have sweet fellowship with you.