Shofar Day 10 Dear Believers In Sardis
January 30, 2026
Revelation 3:1-4
Matthew 24:36-44
Matthew 26:36-41
Daniel 7:13-14
1 Timothy 6:20-21
As we begin to read Revelation 3, Jesus calls Himself, “the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars[.]” (Revelation 3:1) Earlier in Revelation, we learned these names reference both the perfect work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life, as well as His ultimate authority over angels and the Church. (Isaiah 11:2, Revelation 1:20)
Sardis was a powerful society, playing a prominent role in the ancient world as the capital city of Lydia. They are credited with pioneering coined money. The technological, economical, and cultural innovations developed in this town influenced everything around them.
So, it would have shocked the ancient world for Jesus to call them out! Sardis was thriving culturally and looked alive and vibrant; however, they were dead spiritually and Jesus was calling them into life.
Jesus’ call to repentance demonstrated both His wise, all-knowing insight into their true spiritual condition and His deep care for the people. In loving kindness, He was pointing out their sin so they could return to Him. (Romans 2:4) Overflowing with mercy and grace, God wasn’t executing immediate judgement but offering a chance to repent and surrender themselves and their ways to the King.
“Be alert and strengthen what remains,” their Savior urges. “Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.” (Revelation 3:2-3)
The idea of active watchfulness in anticipation of Jesus’ return is woven throughout the New Testament. For example, early Church apostle and preacher Paul tells his fellow Gospel worker, Timothy, to guard what was committed to his trust: the Gospel of Jesus. (1 Timothy 6:20-21) Paul warned Timothy to be mindful of what he was allowing to influence him.
Value fidelity to the Gospel, Paul encouraged his friend, above the empty praise of people and the siren songs of wealth and status. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Such temptations would be especially hard to overcome for the inhabitants of Sardis, a city renowned for accomplishment and affluence.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus Himself instructed His followers to watch and pray so we don’t fall into temptation and so we can be ready for His return. (Matthew 24:36-44, Matthew 26:36-41)
When He comes, He will bring judgement to those who have rejected Him; the opportunity to repent and follow Him will no longer exist.
However, we still have time right now!!
In order to heed the call to watch, we must first heed the call to surrender our lives to Him.
We do this by believing He came to earth from heaven to die on the cross, taking onto Himself the punishment our sins deserved. As a result, He gifts us His righteousness so we may be reconciled to our Father. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
The story gets even better; several days after His death, His disciples discovered His empty tomb! (Matthew 28) In recent years, some have suggested that even the way His burial linens were arranged in the empty tomb point to His intended return. Soon after, the resurrected Jesus appeared to many of His followers before ascending into heaven. Friends, He is alive and coming back!
Jesus won victory over the powers of sin and death, and now we have the privilege to walk with Him in victory when we confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts He is the Son of the living God! (Romans 10:9) We then need to repent (turn away from our sin), ask His forgiveness, and actively follow Him.
When we do this, we are adopted into the family of Christ! This makes YOU a child of the living God! Once we are His, we can heed the call to watch for His return and guard our hearts. I encourage you to spend time with Him. We have the privilege to participate in a deep and intimate relationship with the One Who was dead and is now alive!
As I read God’s words to the church in Sardis, I was reminded of a friend who appeared to be spiritually alive, doing “all the right things.” However, my interactions with this friend revealed a heart depending on works, rather than faith in Jesus. I don’t want this for my life, or for yours, sisters! I want us to live secure in our salvation by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9), so we can heed His call to guard our hearts as we actively await His return!
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”
(Revelation 3:6)
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