Revelation 3:14-22: Christmas can be a very difficult time. One of the things that makes it so stressful is the emphasis we as Americans have put on gift giving. The financial stress is one thing, but then the stress of choosing the right gift for each person becomes overwhelming at times. Then you have the person who has everything and we say “They don’t need anything.”

I wonder if spiritually that is the way many of us feel. We go to church, do our Christian activity for the week, read our bibles occasionally, give, and we feel like we are doing okay. I wonder how God sees it though. Religious activity has never been the bench mark for Him of a person’s standing with Him. He told the church in Revelation 3 “I will you were hot or cold. Because you are neither I will spit you out of my mouth.” Yikes! They were just luke warm in their relationship with Him. Here is how they saw themselves.

Revelation 3:17 “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

When we look at ourselves do we feel like what we say, “they don’t need anything.” Or do we see ourselves as Jesus saw that group of believers? “Luke warm, wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked” though we have almost everything money can buy to make us comfortable.

My prayer today is “Lord help me see me like You see me. Help me to long for a close relationship with you that is hot not cold and a joy to You! May my heart gift to you this Christmas be all of me not just the parts I think look good. Help me not get lost in religion activity but have a genuine encounter with You. In your Name I pray. Amen”