"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Revelation 3:17-19
One of my favorites, actually. I love the first verse especially because it is pointing out to us that often we don't see ourselves truly. We don't know how far we have to go, and sometimes we settle for what we are now, when we could grow and learn so much more. Going on to the next verse, I think it tells us a little bit about how to get out of that false-contented state. We need to keep looking for heavenly treasures rather than Earthly ones. We should be seeking for things that really matter eternally rather than just things that make this life more comfortable. And in the third verse, he tells us that he will rebuke and chasten us because he cares. Just as we need trials, we sometimes need that chastening. It reminds us where we need to go, and that we still need to grow and learn. ... Now with all of this, I really don't think that God wants us freaking out or hating ourselves. That isn't the point. The point is, rather, that when the trials and chastening come, we should act accordingly. We should place value in our lives on the things the Lord values, and not be complacent thinking we are perfect as is. We need to remember that we are God's students, God's children, and we haven't grown up or graduated yet... not for a long time. No self-hatred... just continued self-improvement. :)
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Revelation 3:17-19
One of my favorites, actually. I love the first verse especially because it is pointing out to us that often we don't see ourselves truly. We don't know how far we have to go, and sometimes we settle for what we are now, when we could grow and learn so much more. Going on to the next verse, I think it tells us a little bit about how to get out of that false-contented state. We need to keep looking for heavenly treasures rather than Earthly ones. We should be seeking for things that really matter eternally rather than just things that make this life more comfortable. And in the third verse, he tells us that he will rebuke and chasten us because he cares. Just as we need trials, we sometimes need that chastening. It reminds us where we need to go, and that we still need to grow and learn. ... Now with all of this, I really don't think that God wants us freaking out or hating ourselves. That isn't the point. The point is, rather, that when the trials and chastening come, we should act accordingly. We should place value in our lives on the things the Lord values, and not be complacent thinking we are perfect as is. We need to remember that we are God's students, God's children, and we haven't grown up or graduated yet... not for a long time. No self-hatred... just continued self-improvement. :)
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