December 7, 2024 - Revelation 2:12-17

Introspection.  Self-evaluation.  Good for all of us.  We should always be evaluating ourselves knowing that, even on our best days, there is the need for betterment:  We love God but we should love him with a greater love.  We love our neighbor but not as we should.  We are obedient to God . . . well, most of the time.  We should be bolder in standing up for the truth.  Ah, this last brings us to the church in Pergamum and a lesson for all of us.  How faithful they were!  Even surrounded by great evil (“where Satan’s throne is”) they were faithful even to martyrdom.  But they, like we, were not perfect.  The church allowed false teachings and bad practices to remain among themselves, this exemplified in the Nicolaitans who indulged in idolatry and perverse, sinful practices.  God calls the church to repentance, to rid themselves of these persons and teachings and practices.  To those who are willing to do so and, thus, to purify the church, to them God will give hidden manna and a white stone with their names written on it.  That is, those who faithfully follow after God are the inheritors of life.  It is good for us, also, to examine ourselves to make sure we are walking faithfully before the Lord.  To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).  Ever diligent, let us do the same.

Go, labor on; spend, and be spent,

thy joy to do the Father’s will;

it is the way the Master went;

should not the servant tread it still?

Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray;

be wise the erring soul to win;

go forth into the world's highway,

compel the wand’rer to come in.

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;

for toil comes rest, for exile home;

soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom’s voice,

the midnight peal, “Behold, I come.”   -- Horatius Bonar (1843)