“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
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. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2:18-29
Jesus is calling his church into faithfulness and holiness.
Holiness is not escapism rooted in fear of the world.
The holiness Jesus is calling us into is a distinctiveness rooted in radical faithfulness to God and love for God.
Bottom Line
True faithfulness isn’t rooted in fear of the world, but in a love for God.
Three internal pivots that drive us and can lead to compromise:
- Approval / Popularity - What are others thinking of me?
- Appetite / Provision - Will I have enough?
- Ambition / Power - Am I accomplishing enough?
Action Steps
Reflection
- Where are you currently assimilating?
- Where are you most tempted to assimilate?
- Is there anything God is asking you to give up, step back from, etc., because of its strong hold over you?
Practice
- Give up something for a time if God is asking you to
- Do something to allow God to capture your heart and imagination this week
