WHAT DO YOU DESERVE?

"…I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman – that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet – to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. I gave her time to repent but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn from their evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know I am the One who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to you whatever you deserve." Revelation 2:20-23

In the fourth of seven letters to the churches, Jesus dictates His message for the church in Thyatira to John, leaving little doubt that He is not happy with what is going on. His displeasure is centered on a woman who the church has allowed to introduce false teachings. Indeed, many in the church had adopted her ideals such as idol worshipping, eating food offered to idols, and sexual immorality.

Yet despite His displeasure, Jesus did something that defines Him: He showed grace and mercy. Indeed, he gave Jezebel the opportunity to repent but as scripture shares, "she would not turn away from her immorality." She snubbed her nose at the offered reconciliation of the Father and chose to continue her sinful ways. In return, He passed down judgment, not only on Jezebel, but also anyone who committed adultery with her. At this point, things aren’t looking good for Jezebel’s disciples but as the Lord so often does, He opens doorways. Sometimes these doorways are meant to welcome people in; sometimes it offers a way to escape.

In today’s passage, Jesus opens the doorway of escape from what would surely be harsh judgment (i.e. Jezebel faced illness upon her sickbed), telling the people who had sinned under Jezebel to "turn from their evil deeds" Interestingly enough, the word that requires a turning away from our sins is repent, the word that Jesus used when He spoke to Jezebel. And Jesus follows up this expectation by saying, "I will give to you whatever you deserve." He then backed this up by what He did to Jezebel. You’ll remember that Jesus promised to cast Jezebel upon a sickbed and strike her children dead. It sounds harsh but Jesus will not tolerate someone leading His people astray.

Question: What do you deserve? Has your sinful nature drawn you away from Jesus? Are you willing to come back to Jesus and repent? The bottom line is Jesus loves obedience. It is one of the true ways that we can show Him that we appreciate Him and wish to be in His favor.
So give this a try: Break free from your sinfulness, repent and turn your heart and mind and soul to Jesus.

Be obedient as you are called to be in Christ and you will experience His favor. For He promises to "give you what you deserve". Make sure it’s His blessings and not His punishment.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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