King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Labor In Vain
Date: Saturday December 24, 2011
Chapters: Revelation 3-5
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version, words in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” - Psalm 127:1,2.

The word labor means to work, to exert or use one's powers of the body or mind, whether using our mind or body, we exert ourselves, to work the body we exert our muscles, to work the mind we exert our brain. There are many ways in which labor can be in vain, which means worthless exertion, or working for nothing. For example, someone hollering and throwing things out of anger is worthless exertion of the body. Someone devising a scheme to steal someone's identity is worthless exertion of the mind. Nothing gets accomplished when we labor in vain, but everything gets accomplished when we build it upon the foundation of the Lord. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 3:11.

As Jesus continues telling John what to write in His letters to the seven churches of Asia, He sternly rebukes them for their vain works. The Church in Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. They would boast that there were no false doctrines being taught, but something serious was going on, they were not teaching anything. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” - Revelation 3:1-3.

There are churches that talk about Jesus, parade on good works, but they are dead, meaning they do not know Jesus and are laboring in vain, they are teaching people that they need to work their way to heaven. Very few people who are brought up in false religion will receive Christ, but there are a few that will escape and be saved. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5.

The only church that did not receive any warnings of repentance was the Church in Philadelphia. The Church in Philadelphia was seated upon the borders of Mysia and Lydia, and would probably seem weak and insignificant as far as the world was concerned, their number was small and they had only a little strength within the church, but Jesus commended them for that little bit of strength and also gave them an assurance that their labor was not in vain. “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name...Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” - Revelation 3:8,10.

All who serve Jesus, no matter what they face, and this includes times when all we have is the strength to say, "Help Me, Jesus", can find comfort and peace through Him as they patiently wait for their trials to come to pass. Jesus will come in the blink of an eye, only those who are saved will be a part of His Kingdom. “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” - Revelation 3:11,12.

The Church of the Laodiceans was once a famous city near the river Lycus, had a wall of vast compass, and three marble theatres, and, like Rome, was built on seven hills. They prided themselves on their ability to compromise with the world. The majority of the church members probably congratulated themselves on being moderate and broad-minded, but Jesus saw nothing commendable about what they were doing, He gave nothing, but rebuke to this church and a stern warning too. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” - Revelation 3:15-19.

The quickest way to get God angry is to make compromises, I was watching a movie yesterday and a daughter was commending her parents on their relationship for not compromising, but respecting each other. I can tell you from experience that compromise causes a lot of pain and suffering and destroys relationships. Had I been truthful and honest about how I felt and did not do the things I knew were wrong for that sake of compromise I would have saved myself from a lot vain labor that only caused me pain and suffering. Can I tell you that if a person is or is trying to get you to do something you do not want to do, God will give you the strength and power to overcome it. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” - Matthew 11:28,29.

After John writes down everything that Jesus dictated to him to the seven churches he sees a second vision. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” -Revelation 4:1-3.

The day is quickly approaching when God shall prepare to execute all His judgment upon the earth. Thundering black clouds shall gather, but even in the darkness of that day a bow in the cloud will be seen reflecting the glory of God in the storm and reminding the ones who received His Son that God has not forsaken them. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” - John 10:28.

Then John sees something even more amazing, a throne, with four beasts, a counsel of men, and in the center stood a Lamb that looked like it had been slaughtered. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth..And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” -Revelation 5:6,9,10.

It will be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Who as the Lamb of God, was slain and rejected of men, Who will be the Judge of all mankind. He alone is the only One worthy and able to redeem a soul through His precious blood that was shed for all, but He will only redeem those who believe in and receive Him. Those who do are branded with His blood and sealed with God's promise of everlasting life. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed...All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” - John 6:27,37. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, our hearts are warmed and encouraged when we remember that our labor for You is never in vain. You see our hearts and equip us to carry out the mission of serving You faithfully and wholeheartedly. You never fail to bless us as we are faithful to You and remain steadfast in our commitment to You. May we not rely on just the immediate results, but rather recognize that You are storing up treasures from our work here on earth, many that will only be revealed to us in heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Merry Christmas!

Christina

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