Letters to the Seven Churches: Study for LentSample

Examine Your Deeds: The Church at Sardis 

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What motivates and fills what you do?

Is Judas Iscariot in Heaven? His name is always mentioned last in the list of Jesus’ disciples and is followed by, “the one who betrayed him.” Even so, Judas has fascinated people for centuries as we try to explain why he betrayed Jesus. Was he just greedy, or had he become disillusioned with his Rabbi? Some claim he was actually so dedicated to Jesus' mission that he heroically pushed it forward to a climax. Regardless of what you think about Judas’ motives, do you remember the turning point in his relationship with Jesus? 

It happened in Bethany, a week before the Passover (Read John 12:5, 7, Matthew 26:10-13, 15).

Judas and the woman didn’t calculate the cost or the benefit of their actions. They each followed an impulse that was the overflow of their heart, and in the end, they reaped the consequences. Judas loved himself and loved money. His life ended with bitter regret. The woman loved Jesus, and He lifted her from obscurity into the spotlight of praise. These lives remind us that where an action begins and what fills it as we carry it out matter. This is what Jesus calls the church at Sardis, and us, to hear in Revelation 3:1-6.

Personal Reflection

Jesus' evaluation of the church at Sardis focuses on their deeds. In contrast to some of the other churches in Asia Minor, what they are doing doesn't look sinful. In fact, it looks so good from the outside that Sardis has a reputation for being alive. But God doesn’t evaluate things the way we do, as He told His prophet Samuel, when he was about to anoint the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:7).

Jesus' diagnosis revealed that in God’s eyes the deeds of the church at Sardis were “unfinished” (the Greek says “not full”). What was God looking for? Well, as He told Samuel, He was looking at their hearts. First Corinthians 13 reminds us that from God’s point of view, even the most extraordinary spiritual gifts and impressive sacrifices are empty and worthless without love. Jesus' letter to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 highlights the priority of our love for God. Scripture teaches that authentic love for God expresses itself in love for others, love for what we do, and love for self.   

1. As you meditate on what each of these means through the lens of the Scriptures below, ask God to show you what your deeds are full of. Love for God (Matthew 22:36-38, Deuteronomy 10:12); Love for others (Matthew 22:39, John 15:9,12); Love for what you do (John 4:34, Colossians 3:23, Psalm 40:8); Love for yourself (Hebrews 12:2, Mark 8:35, Psalm 37:4).   
2. What stood out to you as a result of this activity?   
3. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. Which characteristics of love listed in these verses are most challenging for you in your relationship with: God? others? what you do? yourself?

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Discuss   

• What is something you want to remember from the video?       
• How does what you have learned encourage you to persevere in your relationship with God?

Take Away

In His letter to Sardis, Jesus lays out the steps to get back into a flourishing relationship with Him: Wake up! Strengthen what you do have before it dies. Remember what you received and were taught. Hold on to it. Repent. 

If we follow Jesus’ advice, we will get a foretaste of what He promises the overcomers of Sardis: intimacy with Him and glorious righteousness (“They will walk with me, dressed in white.”). And since Christianity is not a religion of self-improvement but is good news about a relationship with God, He doesn’t expect us to generate this love on our own. He offers it to us in 1 John 4:10-12.      

• Judas tried to hide his selfishness behind loud concern for the poor. Can you think of a time recently when you have hidden selfish motivations behind something that looks good? Confess it, and ask God to replace your selfishness with His love.       
• What is one thing you want to remember from this devotional?       
• What does this mean for your life this week?

— Annette Gulick