“But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say—I tell you that I do not lay upon you any other [fresh] burden: Only hold fast to what you have until I come.” Revelation 2:24-25 ->me: In John’s vision, Jesus takes the church of Thyatira to task over succumbing to the pressures of their environment by listening to false teaching that was saying that it was ok to sin in certain circumstances (send me a note if you want to hear more about what this was…took some study). Here is a current day example -> it would be like working someplace where it was part of your job to lie to and get drunk with customers to win their business. This teaching was saying things like “God doesn’t want you to lose your job so it is ok to do these things…”. Jesus had some real tough words for these believers and even worse for the false teacher. Jesus also gives everyone a chance to repent…and to those that stayed true to his word and did not go with the false teaching He says to hang on. We all have a will, we must live in this world, and be subject to the environments we exist in. We must also stay present in our spheres of influence: if we hide ourselves away into communes, shutting ourselves off from the world who desperately needs to hear the gospel, then we are not fulfilling our mission. I must be a witness at work or with my unbelieving friends, but God does not condone dabbling in the sinful acts of world I live in order to reach the lost. I must always remember this passage to keep my guard up against the evil one who wants to trip me up.
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