Of all seven churches addressed directly by Jesus in the Book of Revelation, there is a case to be made that Laodicea is in the worst condition. Ephesus was in danger of being snuffed out as a church if they did not recover their first love. Nevertheless, the Lord still commends them for their many virtues. Sardis had no good deeds to speak of, it was incomplete, but at least Jesus says there was a remnant among them who had remained faithful. The churches in Thyatira and Pergamum were facing possible judgment, but still they were getting some things right. Laodicea, on the other hand, receives no commendation and Jesus’ harshest rebuke.

Just like the messages to the other churches, there is nothing in Jesus’ words to the Laodicean church that cannot be applied to us, to every church or every Christian from one degree to another. The seven churches in Asia Minor represent us all. Certainly there are times when we have the discernment of the Ephesian Christians but like them, forget to love. Or perhaps we love and endure like the Smyrna church and, like them, utterly fail in our discernment. There are seasons when we hold faithfully to Christ like the church in Philadelphia only to later become lifeless and lukewarm like the Christians in Sardis and Laodicea. And so we must have ears to hear what the Spirit says. And in those moments we must be ready to “be zealous and repent” (vs. 19).