Thought for October 27

 History:

• 312: Date said to be when Constantine received his vision of the cross
• 1682: Philadelphia founded by William Penn
• 1775: Continental Navy formed
• 1787: Federalist Papers appear in NY newspapers under the pseudonym "Publius". Reading them now.
• 1838: Mormons ordered to leave Missouri or be exterminated
• 1904: First section of NYC subway opens
• 1938: Dupont announces new synthetic will be called nylon
• 1947: "You Bet Your Life" premiers on radio with Groucho Marx
• 1955: "Rebel Without a Cause" premiers
• 1962: American spy plane shot down over Cuba
• 2018: 11 killed and 6 injured by gunman at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh
• Born: James Cook [explorer], Isaac Singer [sewing machine], Theodore Roosevelt, Emily Post, Dylan Thomas [poet], Ralph Kiner [baseball HOF], Roy Lichtenstein [comic book artist], Ruby Dee, HR Haldeman, Sylvia Plath [poet], John Cleese, John Gotti, Lee Greenwood, Terry Anderson [hostage], Patty Sheehan, Marla Maples, 
• Died: Ivan the Great, Rocky Lane [voice of Mr. Ed], SB Fuller [Fuller Brush], Joe Niekro, Lou Reed, 

Thought:

Continuing to consider what Jesus said to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3. Today I am reading about Sardis in 3:1-6. Here is a church that receives little or no commendation from the Lord. A few are said to have not soiled their clothes and will walk with the conquering Jesus in white. But look at what Jesus says to this church:

• I know your works and your reputation and they do not match. WOW! Think about that. Jesus looks at me and says, I know your reputation but the One who has the seven spirits of God knows your works, your thoughts, your attitude. I may fool some of the people some of the time, but Jesus says, "you cannot fool me." This thought alone is enough for me to meditate on today. Does my reputation match who I really am? Or does the reputation of our church really match who we are? 
• You need to be alert. You need to pay attention. You are not following the things you heard and said you believed. Perhaps Psalm 51 comes in here--examine yourself Larry and ask God to examine you---is there any sinful way in you, any habit that is inconsistent with your statement of faith. 
• You need to repent and return before the last flame goes out. You have wandered away from the Truth. Perhaps lost your first love like Ephesus. perhaps some of your habits have become stumbling blocks like the church at Pergamum, or maybe you are tolerating unrepentant people and unrepentant teaching in your church. 
• You don't know when you will be called to account--Jesus says He will come like a thief--unexpected. So like the pop quiz in school, no warning, just testing. 
• Your worthiness is not based on your actions or your deeds or you works--your worthiness is from the only truly worthy One--walking in Him and with Him you are more than conquerors, walking in your own righteousness you are bound for a place where there is pain.

Lord, help me walk so close to You that my reputation and my self as You see me are exactly the same.

Blessings

Larry