The secret of success: buy, put on, and apply

“Jesus never forces anyone to do anything. He has given us the freedom of choice.” This is how Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider began the divine service in Sédhiou (Senegal) on 19 February 2017, which he based on Revelation 3: 18: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Gold

“What does Jesus mean when He counsels us to buy gold from Him?” Quite obvious: “He means that we should buy the truth, the gospel: Jesus loves mankind. He died for us.”

Buying this gold means: “We must make it our own.” And that means: “This truth applies to me. Jesus loves me. He died for me.” But: “If I want to buy something I have to give up something for it,” the Chief Apostle explained. “We must give up our own ideas and accept the will of the Lord.”

Those who are rich have need of nothing. “I know that Jesus loves me and that He will return. – Even those who live through a difficult time have this gold.” And those who possess this gold can share their wealth with others without becoming poorer. They can tell their neighbour, “You know, Jesus loves you as much as He loves me.”

The garment

“What is this white garment? It is grace.” Threefold grace: the grace of the forgiveness of sins, the grace of election, and the grace of salvation. “This is something we also have to ‘buy’, that is, we have to give up something for it.” Specifically: “We must give up our idea of human justice and accept divine righteousness. We must acknowledge our faults and do our best not to commit them again.”

“Buy this garment and put it on!” the Chief Apostle called to the congregation: “Putting on this garment of grace means that I am thankful, humble, and that I am resolved to overcome evil.”

Ointment for your eyes

“How often do we notice that we are blind?” the Chief Apostle asked and mentioned three examples: we do not see ourselves as we are; we expect solid evidence for God’s presence; and we do not perceive the help of God if it comes in a form that is different than we expected.

“Eye salve is the word of the sermon, and we have to buy it. For this we have to come to divine service, make an effort to listen to the word, and above all apply what we hear.”

“This is the simple advice the Lord gives us today. Let us accept this message and make it ours,” the Chief Apostle said in conclusion. “We have been promised a great treasure: our entry into the kingdom of God.”