This past year I have been part of a Bible study of John. Our official study of the Gospel of John ended a few weeks ago. I have continued on my own through John I, II and III and just started Revelation.

Yesterday in my email inbox came the request that I write an article for WordAlone, what turned out to be this article. “Wow, I am not up to this. Lord, what do you want me to write about?” Today I opened my Bible to Revelation Chapter 2. I believe God wanted me to share this with you.

John was writing to churches in Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum. He could have just as easily been writing to churches in Los Angeles, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Deephaven, Minn. Or better yet a letter to the Lutherans, the Presbyterians and the Episcopal Church!

Instead of my writing it down for you, I am going to follow the process of my “Bible Study through Homiletics” and ask you to think on this yourself. Open up Revelation, Chapter two.

What were the issues in the various churches that John was writing to? What were false teachers teaching? What would John write to us today? And the best for last—what are God’s promises when we overcome and do his will to the end?

If you didn’t take the time to answer these questions you missed a gift (Revelation 2:28—right out of the solar system) that will surely bring a smile to your face and one you can share with those you see today. It is worth opening your Bible.

Lastly, I was admonished by some Christian friends recently for complaining about past events and repeatedly expressing my anger about those past events.

They said, “You can’t follow Jesus if you are always looking back over your shoulder.” I am trying to follow this advice by pointing my focus and energy into Bible study and illumination of what action to take today!

As John said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”