Complacency can be worse than compromise. That’s the clear message we get from comparing Jesus’ words to all seven of the congregations in chapters 2 and 3. Yes, the churches in Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis were all giving in to the faithless culture around them, some more seriously than others. But Jesus still had good things to say about each of them – He even says that something remains alive in the church in Sardis that He calls “dead” (4:2).

But He has no word of praise for the Laodiceans. Their smug satisfaction with their worldly riches had made them essentially indifferent to Jesus – they were neither cold nor hot to Him. And as a result, Jesus said they had become as distasteful to Him as lukewarm water. And so He promised to spit them out (3:15-17).

So, what does Jesus say is the remedy for such worldly complacency? The sort of repentance that comes only after divine rebuke and discipline (3:19). The Laodiceans had drifted so far away from God that such tough love was the only thing that would bring them back.

And that’s exactly the sort of experience the church in Philadelphia was going through, facing as they did the hostility of the Jewish people who had not recognized Jesus to be their Messiah (3:9). But instead of promising them deliverance in this world, Jesus simply encouraged them to hold fast to the truth about Him until His coming (3:11). It is those who suffer for Him who find an open door into His presence (3:8), who belong to God and who will live with God forever (3:12).

So, what is most precious to you today? Like the Laodiceans, are you satisfied with merely material blessings, the peace and prosperity this world has to offer? Or do you want the kind of gold that is only refined by fire (3:16), the fire that comes from the kind of persecution the Philadelphians experienced? Will you hear the voice of Christ and open the door of your heart to Him, acknowledging Him as Your Savior and Lord (3:20)? Or will you remain lukewarm to Him?

Revelation 3:7-22 (ESV)

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie– behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
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.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”