Finale Revelation and Imagination Daily Devotional- 8
by David Joynt on June 13, 2021
Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
REVELATION 2:1, 7 | 1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.
The seven churches are addressed, one by one, in their uniqueness and also together, since verse seven says, “listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Each congregation, then and now, faces unique challenges and has particular problems and possibilities.
The first church addressed is Ephesus, a city of 250,000 people, that was wealthy and cosmopolitan. It had an amphitheater, like our football stadiums, that seated 45,000 people, and a temple to the goddess Diana that was a wonder of the ancient world. Paul spent three years there on his third missionary journey (Acts 2:31). His preaching reduced the sale of pagan artifacts and trinkets, angering the silversmiths. The first letter sets a pattern for the remaining six: a statement about the church, an exhortation and a promise. Chapter 1, verse 20 explains the imagery of seven lampstands and seven stars. It refers to the seven churches and their angels (which could be leaders or spiritual guardians). The church in Ephesus is addressed by Jesus, who holds them in His hands.
Do you have a sense that Jesus holds VPC in His hands?
How can you tell?
