不冷不热的老底嘉
耶稣写给老底嘉教会的信很引人注目。祂对这个教会没有任何正面的评价。但祂确实仁慈地警告他们，呼唤他们悔改，祂说：“凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他。”
在这里，耶稣称自己为“阿们”，意思是“就是如此”，或者换句话说，“这是真理”。耶稣是真神，祂所说的话是可信的、真实的。祂说的话就是真理。祂是那“诚信真实见证的，在神创造万物之上为元首的”。
耶稣责备老底嘉教会的事工没有成效。十英里外歌罗西的冷山水和六英里外希拉波利的热矿泉水都能很好地为人们服务。冷水可以提神，热水可以治病。但老底嘉没有天然的水源，所以当冷水或热水送到他们手中时，都是温的，没有益处。耶稣用当地的情况来描述教会的事工。它既不能沁人心脾，也不能治病；它是腐臭的。耶稣希望这个教会能够提神或治病，这样他们的事工才会有效。这些话很严厉，但却是他们需要的。
圣灵也呼召我们省察自己的心。耶稣的责备适用于今天我们的教会吗？我们变得不冷不热了吗？我们是否依赖财富而不依赖主？
主耶稣，请用你真理的灵充满我们。我们祈求你饶恕并更新我们。阿们。
启示录 3:14-22
14“你要写信给老底嘉教会的使者说：‘那为阿们的，为诚信真实见证的，在神创造万物之上为元首的说：
15我知道你的行为，你也不冷也不热。我巴不得你或冷或热！
16你既如温水，也不冷也不热，所以我必从我口中把你吐出去。
17‘你说“我是富足，已经发了财，一样都不缺”，却不知道你是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。
18我劝你向我买火炼的金子，叫你富足；又买白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞耻不露出来；又买眼药擦你的眼睛，使你能看见。
19凡我所疼爱的，我就责备管教他，所以你要发热心，也要悔改。
20看哪，我站在门外叩门；若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他、他与我一同坐席。
21得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐，就如我得了胜，在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般。
22圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！’”
Lukewarm Laodicea
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." — Revelation 3:15-16
Jesus' letter to the church at Laodicea is striking. He has nothing positive to say about this church. But he does graciously warn them and call them to repentance, saying, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline."
Here Jesus names himself the "Amen," which means, "So be it" or, in other words, "This is the truth." Jesus is the true One, and what he says is trustworthy and true. When he speaks, so be it. He is "the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation."
Jesus rebukes the Laodicean church for its ineffective ministry. The cold mountain water of Colossae, 10 miles away, and the hot mineral water of Hierapolis, six miles away, both served people well. Cold water refreshes, and hot water heals. But Laodicea did not have a natural water source, so when either the cold or hot water made it to them, it was lukewarm and not beneficial. Jesus uses this local situation to describe the ministry of the church. It neither refreshed nor healed; it was putrid. Jesus wished for this church to be either refreshing or therapeutic so that their ministry would be effective. These words were harsh but needed.
The Spirit calls us to search our hearts too. Does Jesus' rebuke apply to us in our churches today? Have we become lukewarm? Do we rely on wealth instead of the Lord?
Lord Jesus, fill us with your Spirit of truth. Forgive and renew us, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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