“And to the angel of the church in Sardis…”
In Revelation 3:1–6, Jesus speaks to the church in Sardis with sobering words: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1, NKJV). Sardis had a reputation for being vibrant, but in reality, they were spiritually lifeless. They looked alive on the outside—busy, active, maybe even admired—but inside, the fire had gone out. Jesus doesn’t commend them like He does other churches. Instead, He calls them to wake up. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” (v.2). It’s a warning to a church that had grown comfortable, careless, and unaware of its true condition.
This message echoes the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. All had lamps, but only five had oil. The others looked ready, but when the bridegroom came, they were unprepared. Sardis was like those empty lamps—religious on the surface, but lacking the Spirit’s power. Jesus urges them to remember what they received, hold fast, and repent. He warns, “If you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief…” (v.3). The danger wasn’t just spiritual sleep—it was spiritual surprise. Sardis needed revival, not reputation. They needed to return to the basics: repentance, obedience, and dependence on Christ.
So what does this mean for us today? It means we must examine our hearts, not just our habits. Are we truly alive in Christ, or just going through the motions? Do we have oil in our lamps, or are we running on empty? Jesus is calling us to wake up, to strengthen what remains, and to walk in white. He promises that those who overcome will be clothed in white garments and never blotted out of the Book of Life (v.5). That’s not a threat—it’s an invitation. Don’t settle for a name. Seek the life. Let the Spirit breathe fresh fire into your walk with Christ. Wake up before it’s too late
“Sardis means ‘a remnant,’ or, ‘those who have escaped.’ This name is very significant and tells its own story too plainly to be misunderstood. It brings before us, prophetically, the great state churches of the Reformation… outwardly reformed, but inwardly lifeless.” — H.A. Ironside
surrendered devotions 