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 Mark 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.Here was sovereignty. Impatient spirits may fret and fume, because they are not called to the highest places in the ministry; but reader be it thine to rejoice that Jesus calleth whom he wills. If he shall leave me to be a doorkeeper in his house, I will cheerfully bless him for his grace in permitting me to do anything in his service. The call of Christ's servants comes from above. Jesus stands on the mountain, evermore above the world in holiness, earnestness, love and power. Those whom he calls must go up the mountain to him, they must seek to rise to his level by living in constant communion with him. They may not be able to mount to classic honors, or attain scholastic eminence, but they must like Moses go up into the mount of God and have familiar intercourse with the unseen God, or they will never be fitted to proclaim the gospel of peace. Jesus went apart to hold high fellowship with the Father, and we must enter into the same divine companionship if we would bless our fellowmen. No wonder that the apostles were clothed with power when they came down fresh from the mountain where Jesus was. This morning we must endeavour to ascend the mount of communion, that there we may be ordained to the lifework for which we are set apart. Let us not see the face of man today till we have seen Jesus. Time spent with him is laid out at blessed interest. We too shall cast out devils and work wonders if we go down into the world girded with that divine energy which Christ alone can give. It is of no use going to the Lord's battle till we are armed with heavenly weapons. We must see Jesus, this is essential. At the mercy-seat we will linger till he shall manifest himself unto us as he doth not unto the world, and until we can truthfully say, "We were with him in the Holy Mount." Daily Light on the Daily Path Jeremiah 32:39 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Psalm 25:8-10 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. • He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. • All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. John 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. Ephesians 4:1-6 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, • with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, • being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. • There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; • one Lord, one faith, one baptism, • one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 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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