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PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Wednesday December 31 - Remaining true “You remain true to my name.” Revelation 2:13
I went to a missionary training college 48 years ago. I was ordained to be a Church of England minister 45 years ago. Some wonderful Christian men and women trained at the same time as I did and I am still in touch with a few. Like me, they are in their ‘senior years’ now and one of the most thrilling experiences is to hear of those who have remained true to Christ and have not renounced their faith.
Jesus commended those in Pergamum who – despite the persecution from outside authorities and compromising pressures from within the church – had remained true to Jesus and had not renounced their trust in him. When the writer of the book of Hebrews penned his letter, he was particularly concerned for those who were in danger of abandoning their faith in Jesus altogether or compromising it in ways which negated the grace of Christ. That being the case, he devoted much time to exhorting them to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:12-14). He also urged them to look to Jesus for inspiration and Christian endurance (Hebrews 12:1-3).
My fellow Christians, we’re in a long distance race, not a sprint; let’s keep going in the strength which God supplies, and encourage others to do the same.
‘O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end. Be thou for ever near me, my master and my friend.’ Amen.
Thursday January 1 - Bad company
“...I have a few things against you: there are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam...” Revelation 2:14
In the Old Testament, Balaam had been guilty of enticing God’s people to commit sexual sins and he had been seduced by monetary greed (Numbers 31:16 and Jude 11). Something similar had occurred under the wicked influence of the Nicolaitans. Greed and sexual sin: two of the most seductive forces which have caused some Christians to abandon their faith in Christ. Beware of their pernicious influence to lead Christians astray.
Some people in the Pergamum church were buying into the idea that this didn’t matter, claiming that in Christ we are ‘set free’ and accordingly can act with permissive freedom, because ‘grace’ will deal with it all and we need not be overly concerned. It is true that the grace of Christ can cleanse us from the foulest sin, but as Paul said in Romans 6:1-2, we should never wilfully abuse our freedom in Christ by knowingly acting in sinful ways.
In the church in Pergamum, whilst there were many faithful Christians, nevertheless Jesus denounced the fact that false teachers were not being disciplined nor excluded; rather their false teaching was being embraced by some. This must not be allowed to continue, said Jesus. Truth matters. True Christian teaching must be safeguarded, and error exposed.
Lord God, please grant me a sound mind, a discerning heart and an obedient will – to know, embrace and follow the truth of your gospel. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY