"I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." Revelation 2:23

Do I want to reach the point when lives are being lost before I believe in who God is? From the Bible we have every warning that Jesus will repay us according to what we do. Just because Jesus died for our sins doesn't automatically transfer these consequences to him too, not when I purposefully choose not to follow him.

Jesus sees through every part of me,
yet warns me of what will come if I don't repent.

"Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:16

God has given me a chance to repent, but this chance is not endless. He has warned me he will come soon. I do not have a picture of Jesus fighting with a sword in my mind. Because even before his death, he did not retaliate and told others to put away their swords. But these events cannot downplay his authority and power as God.

I don't want to imagine what fighting against Jesus will be like,
I don't want to be his opponent.

"I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." Revelation 2:9

It is comforting to hear God say "I know". He understands the pain we go through because Jesus went through suffering as well. Amongst all the negativity we can drown ourselves in, he reminds us that we are rich. This is probably not an adjective we would describes ourselves with, but because we have God there are so many reasons that we are exactly that - rich!

Count all the riches I have, not the things I lack. 

"Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5

Take time today to reflect on where you were and where you are now. Write down a list of 1) things you used to do but no longer do 2) visions and passions given by God 3) thoughts towards God. Make an effort to do these things, because that is the solution to bouncing back from the fall.

God did not save me for me to fall even further away from him.

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9

There is no point going ahead in this life without Jesus. There is no advantage and no prize. It does not get us across the finish line any faster. But it sure gets us there alone and purposeless.

Slow down and find Jesus and his teaching every step of the way.

"But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:11

It is simply not safe to have a beautifully cleaned car interiorly with dirty windshield and windows. The driver cannot see the road properly. Similarly, we cannot place all our attention on loving others yet neglect the corners of hate in our life. Hatred, no matter how small, blinds us and hinders us from living the life of love Jesus called us to.

Wipe away all the windows of hate today;
the dangers ahead are unforeseeable.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

What if we changed our perspective from "God, you're so slow" to "God, you're loving and patient"? And what if we considered the needs of others rather than impatiently grumble that it has been a day since God hasn't answered your request? God never told us he wouldn't fulfill his promises. This means he certainly will.

Look up from your watch and see the needs of those around you.