My assignment was to write a letter from God to me following the format of the letters written to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, chapters two and three. I love these letters. You can click those hyperlinks back there and read them yourself if you like. If you have never read the Bible you will not understand the significance of them, but no matter. You will at least see what I’m talking about.
What you should know is that the book of Revelation is one book of the Bible I have not studied much at all. It’s very mystical and loaded with symbolism that unchurched people, and even very churched people, find a little weird if I’m honest. If you would like a great summary of this book click here and you will be taken to my favorite website for all questions regarding the story of God and His people.
The verses that struck a nerve with me long ago still do. They are in the letter to the church of Laodicea. ‘ “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! ‘ Revelation 3:15-16 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/REV.3.15-16
These ring so true to me simply because I was lukewarm for many years, right up until a year ago. And I’ve been a Christ-follower for a long time now. I started out burning hot, then went to ice cold, then back to hot, and burning hot, and finally to lukewarm and back to hot, all over the course of – oh my gosh, I just realized it typing these words – forty years. From the age of sixteen until I turned sixty-six. Wow.
EDIT: Oops! Hahahahahaha. That’s fifty years isn’t it?! I was just telling someone this little nugget of a story and I realized my math is off by ten years.
Right now I have to leave for work, so I will leave you with the letter I composed. Let me know what you think. And try it yourself. You might learn things about you that you never realized before, just like I did! 😉
To My Dear and Loving Daughter,
It took a lifetime to be able to call you that and finally see a genuine smile in your heart, to know that you truly accept my love and approval without reservation or doubt, and it brings me such joy! I am so pleased that you lifted your face to me at long last. Your passionate and merciful nature can now be used in the way I always intended 😊 Your ability to relate well with the hurting will now become a valuable tool in the building of my Kingdom.
I created you with your obstinate, competitive, and gregarious soul for a reason. I guess I should have taken it down a notch because those qualities get in your way as much as they spur you on. But had you been soft and sweet and pliable you never would have survived the life you chose when you shunned me. And you wouldn’t be brave enough now to share your mistakes and your pain to help others surrender to me.
Now, if you would only allow my Spirit to put the finishing touches on your rough edges! You must develop more patience, curb your truck-driver tongue, and quell your quick temper as we begin the real work. You must learn to take criticism without being offended. That’s your pride getting in the way again.
I am still waiting for you to take charge and move forward as a leader and a teacher, but you are such a perfectionist you are blocking your own progress and moving way too slowly. It pains me that you struggle to believe you have it in you to influence others for me. You are saddled with too many doubts and fears of rejection, yet you won’t admit to yourself that is the problem. Perfectionism breeds procrastination my girl, and you have that down to a science! The fact that you can’t seem to stay focused and on task doesn’t help either. So, we still have some work to do before you bear fruit.
You have asked me to forgive you for wasting so much of your life being a bonehead and doing it your way. I’m sorry I had to be so rough on you to finally get your attention, but my goodness! How much longer was I supposed to wait? We need to get a move on! You’ve done a great job of cleaning up the temple since you became my child, but if you could see the number of your days that remain, I know you would be moving a bit faster.
If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that you would bend over backwards to please me and rescue as many as possible while you still have time. Your heart is true, and you really do care to see others spend eternity with you and me and the rest of our family. And that is good.
In closing, I will tell you that you are on the brink of making a meaningful impact on those whom you have connected with in recent months. It warms my heart to see you using the gifts I’ve given you. Your desire to please me is your greatest accomplishment. To cultivate that desire in others is my goal for you, child. Just bring the loaves and fish. I will do the rest.
I love you to the aliums, as your daughter and stepson would say 😊
Always,
Your Abba
God Loves Bad Girls, Too! 