Passage Read: Revelation 3-4
Meditation Verses: 3:3-5
Thought
The church in Sardis is not like the church in Laodicea. In Laodicea, they were proud and self-sufficient and not learning from the Lord, because they were so materially prosperous. In Sardis, they had just grown lazy and uncaring. They seemed alive but most were asleep. God expected then to have more righteous deeds. Life was easy for them, they didn't have the pressure that the other churches had, but instead of using their freedom for God's Kingdom, they were coasting through life, living for the world while still meeting together, still being nice. But they weren't paying attention to all God's commands. They were like the five foolish virgins: Jesus would come when they didn't expect it and leave them out of His Kingdom. God has higher expectations for the church at peace.
Application
Peace is not a time to turn my attention to my own things, but to be even more diligent about the things of God and His Kingdom. Those that give themselves more to Christ's purposes and goals during times of peace will be counted just as worthy of eternal life as those who do all they can to remain faithful to Christ in the face of great persecution. I live in a really peaceful period for the church, at least the church in my home country. That's not the time to turn my attention to building a life for myself and gathering all kinds of good things to myself. That's a time to leave everything the world offers to go and serve Christ and His harvest. All God's commands apply at all times, but even more when all is peaceful and secure for one of God's churches. Peace and prosperity is just as much a test that reveals my love for Christ and His Kingdom as persecution is. Both sort true believers from false.