Matthew 27:22 “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
“I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My Names’ sake, and have not grown weary.”
Jesus, who is called Christ, spoke these words in Revelation 2:2-3. Imagine these words of affirmation being spoken to you by Jesus! Whew! We would certainly be tempted to gloat! To pat ourselves on the back! To look around to see how many have witnessed this conversation! In today’s vernacular you would reach for your cell phone to take a “selfie”! Whoa! You might want to hold off on your celebration and applause…while you listen to the Savior’s words in the very next verse: “But I have this against you; you have left your first love.”
Some years back, while visiting in the U.S. I was asked to lead 2 Bible Study classes on a Sunday morning. As I prayed asking our Lord what He desired for me to say and the Scriptures to teach, the Holy Spirit gently yet clearly spoke to my heart, “Tell them they have been wooed to sleep. Tell them they have been wooed to sleep by their complacency, their comforts and their riches. They do not even realize that amidst their activities, pleasures and satisfactions they are asleep. Tell them to wake up!”