Revelation 3:7-13

We have almost completed the circuit of the seven churches! We have only two left, so this time we will visit Philadelphia! Now don't think about the Liberty Bell, soft pretzels, and cheesesteaks. Oh man....now I am thinking about them. Did you know I grew up in the suburbs of North Philly?

Instead we are still in ancient Asia Minor, seeing what Jesus says to the church in this ancient city of "brotherly love." This church has the distinction, along with the Church in Smyrna, of escaping any criticism from Jesus. This is more of a "wellness visit" to the eye doctor as opposed to a sick visit to the GP.

Eye doctor? Four times Jesus says to them, "Behold"! That's not a word we use very often in our vocabulary. It is an imperative form of the word that means "to see". It is translated "see", and also "look", both with an exclamation point! When you find something really cool and you know someone else would enjoy it, you say, "Come here and check this out!" That might be the essence.

In a world where we have a hard time focusing, or we can tend to focus on the wrong things, Philadelphia gives us a chance to have our vision checked. What does Jesus want them to see and understand? What encouragement could they receive by seeing it? It's as if Jesus is refocusing their attention to help them endure.

I think you will be blessed and blown away with the message to the church in Philadelphia, Fluvanna and our viewers!

View and see!

Steve