One of the greatest gifts of Revelation 1 is that before Jesus addresses the condition of the churches, He reveals Himself to John. Before there is correction, encouragement, warning, or promise, there is a fresh vision of Christ. That is where our hearts must begin as well.
It’s easy to approach the seven churches wondering which one sounds most like our church or even our own life. But before we read a single letter, Jesus invites us to simply look at Him. When our eyes are fixed on Christ, we begin to see everything else more clearly.
Keep your eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1–2 reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Every day our attention is pulled in countless directions, yet peace, endurance, and hope are found by continually looking to Him. The more clearly we see Jesus, the more faithfully we can follow Him.
Believe that Jesus sees us. Psalm 139 reminds us that nothing in our lives is hidden from God. He knows our thoughts before we speak them, our struggles before we confess them, and our needs before we recognize them. That truth isn’t meant to fill us with fear but with confidence. The One who knows us completely also loves us perfectly and walks among His people with compassion and grace.
Listen closely to Jesus’ voice. In John 10, Jesus says that His sheep know His voice. We live in a world filled with competing voices demanding our attention, but the voice of our Shepherd is the one that leads to life. The more time we spend in His Word and in His presence, the more clearly we learn to recognize His leading.
Follow where Jesus leads. Jesus never calls people to admire Him from a distance. He calls us to follow Him. In Matthew 28:18–20, He sends His followers into the world to make disciples. Every step of obedience, whether large or small, becomes an opportunity to reflect His love and proclaim His gospel.
As we continue through the letters to the seven churches, my prayer is that we won’t simply study churches from the first century. Instead, we’ll invite Jesus to search our own hearts. Where does He want to encourage us? Where does He want to correct us? Where does He want to strengthen our faith or deepen our love for Him?
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “Am I looking at Jesus?” When our eyes are fixed on Him, our hearts become open to His voice, our lives become shaped by His presence, and our feet become willing to follow wherever He leads.
May we have the humility to listen, the courage to respond, and the faith to trust that the One who sees us also knows exactly how to lead us.
I am praying for you, I love you, and I love being your pastor.
Pastor Brant
