You can look like a fantastic Church/Christian and yet there can be something fundamentally wrong.
Who wouldn’t want to be a member of Thyatira?
“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 …” (Revelation 2 v 19-20)
It could be said that they even got better than they were before. Deeds, love, faith, service and perseverance all had increased. Nevertheless …
The problem was that they had lost touch with Jesus because they had compromised themselves by following false teaching which we will see as we read further.
Not everything that happens on the stage is a true reflection. Sadly sometimes it is only an act.
Who are you behind the stage? When the curtains close to rapturous applause who are you?
These wonderful traits found in Thyatira in comparison to intimacy with Jesus are worthless. They may benefit the crowds but there will be a final curtain call and when it is all over what will be left?
How important is your activity on the stage?
Do you think you deserve some awards? What about promotion? Recognition? After all you have done do you feel entitled to opportunities that have not come your way? Look at all those great things you have said and done and the fact that you have gained success. Crowds can change a person. They can give a person a feeling of superiority. They can deceive someone to think they are better than they really are.
Are you known off the stage?
“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.” Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
The audience of the One is better than the auditoriums of thousands.
The greatest thing of your life today is that you will once again open your life for Him to know you. You will share your struggles, ask forgiveness, ask for strength and you will desire Him. In doing this He will know you. Don’t stop your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, but not in place of your intimacy with Jesus. Being known each day will mean that ‘Nevertheless’ will not be said of you. Amen!
Missions Paul 