The Lord knows our works.

The second and third chapters of Revelation feature the Lord’s messages to branches of the Church in seven different cities. These messages are tailor-made for each branch, usually with a mixture of praise and criticism. But notice what the Lord says to every single branch:

“I know thy works.”¹

Imagine the Lord came to you and said, “I know thy works” (which He does, of course). Would that make you happy, or nervous? How are your “works”—your thoughts, words, and actions—these days? Could you stand with confidence before God, or would you feel a little embarrassed?

Even if you still have some improvements to make (and we all do), don’t be discouraged. The Lord also reminded these seven branches of an important truth: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

In other words, He reprimands us because He loves us, not because He’s angry. We don’t need to beat ourselves up, just repent and move on. He knows our works and He also loves us!

Notes
1. See Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, and 19. See also Rev. 3:1, 8, and 15.