Hi there and welcome to Van Life Devotions. We are in the ancient city of Thyatira. Thyatira was a military town as well as a commercial centre with many trade companies – meaning that people would do a lot of trading of this for that.
Thyatira is mentioned in two places in the Bible. In Act 16 we are told that Lydia was from Thyatira. Perhaps more significant is that Thyatira is mentioned in Revelation as there was a church that met here.
The city boasted a special temple to Apollo, who was the “sun god,” which explains why Jesus introduced Himself in verse 18 as “the Son of God” - the only time in Revelation this title is used.
As with his other messages to these seven churches in Revelation, Jesus starts with encouragement. I reckon this is a great principle in life when you need to have a hard conversation with someone. Start with positives. There is good in everyone. Jesus saw good in this church. He says, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first” (Revelation 2:19 NIV). Good on them!
However, as Thyatira was a trading town where people would trade this for that, it appears that this culture made its way into the church. This is what Jesus said to them: “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling” (Revelation 2:20-21 NIV).
The problem was not external persecution, but internal compromise. The church was permitting a false prophet to influence the people and lead them into compromise. It is not likely that this woman was actually called “Jezebel”. The name is probably a pseudonym for a woman who influenced the church in the way Jezebel influenced the Old Testament Jews into idolatry and immorality as mentioned in 1 Kings 21. The early church that met here were compromising their faith with the secular.
The word hybrid is something that is a mixture of two very different things. For example, a hybrid plant has been bred from two different species of plant; a hybrid car uses both electricity and petrol or diesel; a hybrid work is a flexible working model where employees work partly in the physical workplace, and partly remotely – at home or from another workspace.
To be a follower of Jesus, you cannot have a hybrid faith. You can’t please God and please the world. You are either for God and His Ways as taught in the Bible or you are not.
Those who remain faithful to God and not compromise their faith, Jesus said in verse 28, “I will also give that one the morning star” (Revelation 2:28 NIV) meaning that someday you will have Christ in His fullness. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says…” (Revelation 2:29, NIV)
Let’s pray.
Dear God. Thank you for the example of people who do not compromise their faith in You. Help us not to trade parts of our faith for parts of the world.
O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Moyes
Comments