November 6

"After the return from Babylon, much attention was given to religious instruction. All over the country, synagogues were erected, where the law was expounded by the priests and scribes. And schools were established, which, together with the arts and sciences, professed to teach the principles of righteousness. But these agencies became corrupted. During the captivity, many of the people had received heathen ideas and customs, and these were brought into their religious service. In many things they conformed to the practices of idolaters.

As they departed from God, the Jews in a great degree lost sight of the teaching of the ritual service. That service had been instituted by Christ Himself. In every part it was a symbol of Him; and it had been full of vitality and spiritual beauty. But the Jews lost the spiritual life from their ceremonies, and clung to the dead forms. They trusted to the sacrifices and ordinances themselves, instead of resting upon Him to whom they pointed. In order to supply the place of that which they had lost, the priests and rabbis multiplied requirements of their own; and the more rigid they grew, the less of the love of God was manifested. They measured their holiness by the multitude of their ceremonies, while their hearts were filled with pride and hypocrisy."

           Desire of Ages, page 29  from the chapter, 'The chosen people'

     But not everyone left! There were many who held on to God and who continued to stay faithful to God. Jesus was born into a God-fearing family. He was met by people who were looking for ‘the Lord’s Christ’. Zechariah and his family, Simeon and Anna greeted Jesus and worshipped him.

     We could look at our own generation and consider that all is lost. We could believe that we are all Laodicean, people who are well described by the description found in Revelation 3:14-21.

     However you could hold your galloping thoughts and remember that there is more to that description than the message of condemnation. There is good advice as well.

     It is obvious today that not all people are lukewarm, we are not all, “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Many have taken the advice given in Revelation 3:18

     There are many people who have turned their back on such a fate. They have listened to the message given to the angel of the church and are now better described in these terms,

     “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name ….Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

                                  Revelation 3:8,10

     There is hope! Today.

     Simply follow the advice given to the Laodicean church and then believe that God has called you to be Philadelphian – and then choose to live the Philadelphian lifestyle – of brotherly love.