Even without extensive trustworthy resources at your disposal, you could read the letters to the six churches in Rev. 2-3 and understand those verses just fine on your own. These two chapters are straightforward and easily applicable to anybody who reads them. They are revealing letters, from Jesus, addressed to seven different churches in Asia Minor. They don’t beat around the bush, and they don’t try to sugarcoat anything. The letters all have some similar elements, but they are also deeply personal. Jesus knew everything that was going on with each individual church. 

INTRODUCTION OF JESUS. Jesus identifies Himself at the very beginning of several of the letters. For example, to the church of Philadelphia, He calls himself the one “who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.” And in His letter to Laodicea, He says He is “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” I love that Jesus is whoever we need Him to be in every season and moment of our lives. Some days, I need the reminder that He is holy. Other days, I need to be reminded that He holds authority! He holds the keys of David. No matter what kind of day (or week or month or year) it is for me, He is whatever I need Him to be. I think Jesus introduced Himself to these churches with intentionality. Whatever part of His character they needed reminders of, I think that’s what He told them.

I KNOW. In all seven letters, Jesus says things He knows about each particular church. He knew Sardis’ deeds. He knew the people there had a reputation for being alive but were actually dead. He also said He knew the deeds of the church of Ephesus, and He knew of their hard work and perseverance. To the church in Smyrna, He said He knew their afflictions and poverty. Nothing happening in the life of each church/city slipped His attention, and nothing that’s happening in your life gets by Him, either. He knows.

COMMENDATIONS AND CHALLENGES. When reading through the letters, you’ll see that Jesus often commends the churches for things they were doing well. Some of them were enduring extremely difficult situations and persecution, and they were still persevering in their faith. They were demonstrating faithful endurance. Most of the churches, though, were given challenges from Jesus. He knew there was room for improvement, and He spoke specifically in this way. To the church in Pergamum, He said he was holding a few things against them, including the fact that they were allowing themselves to be influenced by false teachers who were drawing them into immoral practices. To this church, Jesus said, “Repent therefore! Otherwise I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” In His letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus challenged believers to hold onto what they had until His return. 

PROMISES. Most of the letters end with a promise from Jesus! If you simply glance at the last couple verses of each letter, you’ll see His promises point to provision, identity in Christ, authority, a privileged place in the church, forgiveness, eternal life and even the right to sit with God on His throne. 

These letters are so special. I love thinking about how intimately Jesus knew each community of believers. He knew what was going on in their cities and how they were being impacted, and He knew how to best encourage and motivate His followers. Just as Jesus knew everything going on in each of these seven churches, He also knows exactly what is going on with you. He is actively involved in the lives of His people! He knows best how to commend you and how to challenge you. And guess what? He knows which part of His character you need to be reminded about, and He knows which of His promises you especially need to be able to hold onto right now. 

But if you’re being honest, I bet you know most of these things about yourself, too. If you’re looking for a way to be reflective and intentional at the start of this new year, I have an idea to pass along. As we studied the seven letters in my Bible study, a leader made the suggestion to think about what Jesus might say if He wrote us letters today. Are you up for that challenge? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you write a letter to yourself—as if it were coming from Jesus Himself. A letter like one of those we see in Rev. 2-3. Use language of your own, or if that seems too daunting, pick out some of the words and phrases straight from the letters to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. 

Here are some questions to help organize and formulate your letter. If you prayerfully write a sentence or two for each bullet point, you should end up with a letter that is intimately meaningful and also personally challenging. Take plenty of time to meditate on these questions, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight.

• If Jesus was addressing a letter to you, how do you think He would introduce Himself? What names and/or attributes of Jesus are your life circumstances crying out for right now? 
• What are you doing well in your spiritual life? What are you doing well in life in general? What are your strengths? How are you using those strengths? 
• In what area of your life do you think God might be wanting you to improve? 
• What promises of God are bringing you strength in this season? What promises of God should or could be bringing you strength in this season? 

Jesus knows you, and He loves you! Don’t settle for just keeping your head above water and surviving each day. Stop and take some time to think about what Jesus might say directly to you if He wrote you a letter. And then? Let those words move you forward, maturing you in Him.