Lake Eufaula Christian Church
Do you consider yourself to be a good Christian even though you might be lukewarm in your Bible reading? Your worship? Your fellowship with other believers? If so, consider yourself like the congregation of Laodicea, the ancient church to which Jesus dictated a letter with a message as relevant today as it was in antiquity.
Prosperity reigned in the city of Laodicea, with much of its wealth coming the its worldfamous black-wooled sheep. The Laodiceans exported multiple articles of clothing made from their unique violetblack,
glossy dark wool, adored in cities that had only white sheep.
Even more wealth came to Laodicea because three major roads from different directions camethroughthemountains to meet in this city. Because travelers brought wealth needing money exchange, Laodicea became the center of banking. When an earthquake damaged the city extensively, Laodicea didn’t need help from the Roman Caesar to rebuild the city. Nor did they need tax breaks like other cities did.
The rich Laodiceans were arrogantly and pridefully self-sufficient. They were so well-off they didn’t need help from anyone. Maybe— they might—have thought, not even God Himself? However, they desperately needed one thing they didn’t have—water. They had no wells, no mountainous runoff, no springs. They built an aqueduct and clay pipes, which brought water from two cities that were within 10 miles, Hierapolis and Colossae.
The hot water from Heirapolis’s hot springs and the cold water from Colossae’s cool springs were both lukewarm by arrival time in Laodicea. The water was very
distasteful, maybe even gaggable, to drink. Jesus considered the Laodicea church to be very much like the city’s water, and he got right to that point in his letter to them.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16).
Maybe church members in Laodicea were meeting and going through the motions, but they were not pleasing the One Who died for the church, and Who is the Head of the Church. Jesus told them, “You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3-17). But He balanced his stinging judgment with His grace. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3-19) Externally, the church appeared to be glamorous, but Jesus was not impressed. They called themselves Christians, but they didn’t need Him for anything. They were doing fine on their own, but Jesus wanted to be part of their lives. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock… He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3-20-22) If you’re a lukewarm Christian like the Laodiceans were, today this invitation is extended to you. If you hear His knock and want to open the door to His invitation, let LECC help you. Come to 10 a.m. small group Bible study, 11 a.m. worship, and/ or 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night classes for all ages. We guarantee the welcome you’ll receive will be as warm as our fiery service.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
