READ: Amos 5-6; Proverbs 12; Revelation:2
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 2: 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and
perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
OBSERVATION: Many of us have sweet memories of the small church
in our village or hometown or the area we grew up. In small churches, certain
things are unique and precious; those unique things are scarce to see in
mega-churches. If you have not yet visited any small village or countryside churches,
you can plan to have some first-hand experience of their love and fellowship. Here,
the Lord tells John to write to the angel of the church in Thyatira, a small
and insignificant church, as compared to the other churches mentioned in
Revelation chapter 2. There are not many details available about the ancient
Thyatira. It is said that the people of Thyatira worshipped "the sun god
Tyrimnus,” but the believers who lived there worshiped “the Son of God” (v.18).
Interestingly, in the book of Revelation, the phrase “Son of God” appears only
in Rev.2:18.
The Lord knows about every church and
its deeds, hard work, perseverance, afflictions, poverty, love, and faith. Unlike
the other churches mentioned in chapter 2, though the Thyatira church was
small, the Lord knows about it. God does not see the size, quantity, and background
of a person or church. The Lord commends the Thyatira church’s good deeds, love,
faith, service, and perseverance. In other words, they devote themselves to
doing good things and have the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:8, 14;
Gal.5:16). The Lord gives another compliment to the Thyatira Church that “ you
are now doing more than you did at first.” It means that they continue to grow
in their spiritual life, Christlikeness, and what they are already doing for
the Lord day by day. In essence, the church at Thyatira was better than the
other churches in many ways. Yet, it was not without any flaws. The Lord
rebukes the Thyatira church for their tolerance of false teaching that misled
many to accept pagan rituals and practices. Out of their godly love, they may
have been overlooked the false teaching of Jezebel. However, Lord Jesus clarifies
the place and punishment for such false teachers deserve. He reminds the Thyatira
church about his second coming and asks “to hold on to what you have” (v.25). We
should know that the Lord knows everything about us. The least of all the seven
churches, Thyatira church, receives the longest letter from the Lord. By continually
growing in Christ and grace through faith, every Christian should be careful to
worship the Lord Jesus and not allow any ungodly teachings to ruin our
Christian life and fellowship.
APPLICATION: I may be small and
insignificant in front of others, but Jesus knows everything about me. Jesus warns
against false teachings and gives his guidance to protect me from ungodly,
immoral, and false teachers. Jesus never commands to do great and humanly
impossible things. I have to follow his advice to be victorious and to do God’s
will for my life. Until Jesus comes, I should be a growing Christian and hold
on to my faith.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for reminding me to be a
growing Christian and be strong in my faith. Loving God, open my eyes and ears
to know more about you who know about me. Holy Spirit, help me overcome
everything by the power of your Spirit. Lord, help me grow in Christ and remain firm
in my faith today and always. Amen.
- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573
Day – 345
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