| Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash
In Revelation 2: 12-17, John wrote to the church in Pergamum. This church drifted from the Word in a hostile city.
In verse 13, we read, “I (Jesus) know that you live in a city where Satan is active, and you were faithful even when they killed you.” Jesus commended this faithfulness to the Lord. This message is needed in our city today: to be faithful to Jesus in all situations.
In verses 14-15, Jesus tells them that the church began to drift and compromise the Word and Jesus. They began to listen to false teachings, not from God’s Word.
In verses 16-17, Jesus tells the church to repent, or I will fight against you. Repent means to turn around and follow God’s direction. This is a message to the church today: We need to repent!
What is the blessing for those who repent of compromise? The Lord gives us a white stone. In the legal system of the day, if you received a black stone, it meant you were guilty, but a white stone meant you were innocent.
One day, we will all stand before King Jesus. Will we receive a black stone or a white stone? If we have taken up our cross and followed Jesus, He will give us a white stone because He is the one who paid the price for all my sins and made me innocent!
Today, if Jesus is your Savior, Lord, and King, we are innocent! What a Savior, and what a miracle!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Church (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.
