Bible League: Living His Word "But I have a few things against you."— Revelation 2:14 ERV The Apostle John's third letter to the seven churches follows the letters to the loveless church in Ephesus and the persecuted church in Smyrna. In whole, the seven letters represent a historical snapshot of the Church in that day and as many scholars believe, a view of the Church in our present and future days. John's third letter is to the church in Pergamum (Pergamos). A leading city in the political and cultural arena known for its passion in seeking knowledge, it was also a pagan city, worshipping many different gods. From John's letter, Jesus is rebuking the church for being a compromising church. Historically, the Church in Pergamos represents the church in the post-persecution era (approximately AD 325 to AD 570). It is the era of the first state sponsored church when state religion is suddenly placed on people who were not believers, which led to compromising values, compromising religious practices, and compromising beliefs. The Lord begins by commending the church in Pergamos for their good works in the midst of a city filled with paganism. He says, I know your works, even where Satan has set up shop, but you are holding up the name of Jesus and keeping to your faith (verse 13). But like most of the other seven letters, Jesus speaks rebuke to the church in Pergamos saying "I have a few things against you." The rebuke, followed by His correction, is aimed at those who joined the church and brought with them strange doctrines and practices, false worship and offerings to idols, and church leaders lording over the flock. The church's acceptance was its compromise. Much like today where we see so much practice and acceptance of worldly moral values and sin in the church. The church is to be the example to the world of God's holiness and purity. As Christians we are to be such examples as well to the world. But when we compromise godly standards of holiness and purity, we are actually putting up stumbling blocks for others to fail in their faith or not really have true faith to begin with. The correction to comprise is to "repent" the Lord says (verse 16), and the remedy is to go forward walking in truth and love without compromise. The brilliant author and theologian G.K. Chesterton once quipped, "Compromise used to mean that half a loaf of bread was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it seems to now mean that half a loaf of bread is better than a whole loaf." Dearest beloved of Christ, compromise is never the way forward for the truth and love of God. As one follows the progression of John's seven letters to the churches, we see a pattern where in the first letter "lovelessness" seems to invite persecution upon the church. The very nature of persecution invites compromise to relieve suffering. Reading forward, compromise will lead to corruption and the corrupt church in Thyatira which leads to the dead church as people flee in the letter to the church in Sardis. Let you and I not be found by our Lord to be party with compromising faith and compromising hearts. Rather, let us be found shining brightly in the uncompromised truth and uncompromising love of Jesus Christ. Let us be His children no longer "tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head - Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15). By Davide Massie, Bible League International staff, California USA Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 17, 18 Proverbs 17 -- Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 18 -- An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Corinthians 2 2 Corinthians 2 -- Reaffirm Your Love for the Sinner; We speak in Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.Insight We often feel that life is a failure unless we're getting a lot out of it: recognition, fun, money, success. But Paul considered life worth nothing unless he used it for God's work. Challenge What he put into life was far more important than what he got out. Which is more important to you—what you get out of life, or what you put into it? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Habakkuk 1:8 Evening wolves.While preparing the present volume, this particular expression recurred to me so frequently, that in order to be rid of its constant importunity I determined to give a page to it. The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. May not the furious creature represent our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellow men? How our thoughts howl in our ears, "Where is now thy God?" How voracious and greedy they are, swallowing up all suggestions of comfort, and remaining as hungry as before. Great Shepherd, slay these evening wolves, and bid thy sheep lie down in green pastures, undisturbed by insatiable unbelief. How like are the fiends of hell to evening wolves, for when the flock of Christ are in a cloudy and dark day, and their sun seems going down, they hasten to tear and to devour. They will scarcely attack the Christian in the daylight of faith, but in the gloom of soul conflict they fall upon him. O thou who hast laid down thy life for the sheep, preserve them from the fangs of the wolf. False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring men by their false-hoods, are as dangerous and detestable as evening wolves. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear the sheep's skin. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church. What a wonder of grace it is when fierce persecutors are converted, for then the wolf dwells with the lamb, and men of cruel ungovernable dispositions become gentle and teachable. O Lord, convert many such: for such we will pray tonight. Daily Light on the Daily Path Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Isaiah 49:5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Isaiah 27:5 "Or let him rely on My protection, Let him make peace with Me, Let him make peace with Me." Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), Genesis 32:26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. Psalm 35:1,2 A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. • Take hold of buckler and shield And rise up for my help. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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