Day 03 - Hierapolis, Colossae, Laodicea

RESTORING OUR VIEW OF THE GOOD LIFE.

Today, we began the day with a spectacular hot air balloon ride over the city of Hieropolis as we studied the geography of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Our group was nervous but had an absolute blast!

Then, we put boots on the ground in the archeology that we just viewed from above with a very heavy hiking day, beginning with the important city, Hieropolis. There, we talked a lot about prosperity and how the world defines prosperity compared to how Jesus defines it. We studied both the history of Epaphras (the biblical pastor here) as well as the apostle Philip who was martyred here. We compared the City of the Dead to the City of the Living and pondered the number of days we have, asking the question, "How many people have learned about the grace of God from us?" We wrapped up by putting our feet in, what the ancient mystics called, the healing waters of Hieropolis while comparing those hot springs to the Living Water we experience in Christ.

We went to lunch beside a beautiful waterfall before going to the tel (unexcavated mound) of Colossae and studying the book of Philemon and discussing the importance of the book of Colossians. It was a beautiful time!

Lastly, we visited our first of the seven churches of Revelation, Laodicea. This excavated city is among the best excavations on the planet! We discussed and saw the things that the Laodiceans were famous for before sitting in the house church that Jesus wrote that letter to through the apostle John. Hieropolis was known for its healing hot springs, Colossae for its cold, refreshing waters, and Laodicea for its lukewarm, tepid water. Christ's letter to the Laodicean Christians is a tremendous picture of how intimately Jesus knows His Church! We studied the letter there in that house church and determined various ways that the Lord would have us apply this letter to our lives as well.

We've just arrived back at the hotel and are obviously worn out in the best of ways! Everyone on the team is still healthy, feeling well, and doing an incredible job--thank you Jesus! That being said, we'll soon head to dinner and spend the rest of the evening relaxing before heading to Aphrodisias tomorrow. Keep praying, friends! We're beyond grateful.