IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Repent of Compromise with the World

Date: Apr. 24, 2025

Passage

Revelation 2:12-29 (ESV)

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2:16

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Pergamum was known to be a city of multiple idolatrous cults. These cults included the worship of Roman emperors, the Greek god Zeus, and many other Roman and Greek idols. Thyatira was known for its cloth-making and metalworking industries, both of which were heavily controlled by trade guilds. Belonging to a trade guild was critical to get a job and achieve success, but these trade guilds also had many idolatrous and immoral practices. Whether due to religious and cultural pressure as in Pergamum or job pressure as in Thyatira, Christians are constantly tempted to compromise with idolatry and immorality. Furthermore, there were false teachers in the church who promoted compromise with the world, leading faithful believers to become unfaithful to Jesus. Satan continues to use such tactics today to lead God’s children astray.

The only antidote is to hear and accept the sharp, double-edged sword (2:12) of God’s word. The Holy Spirit helps us to hear God’s word. We cannot deceive God; Jesus searches our hearts and minds and knows us (2:23). God’s word must lead us to repentance, specifically to repent our compromise with the world. Let Jesus’ words penetrate your heart and lead you to repentance.

Prayer: Father, we are tempted to compromise with idols and sexual immorality. We repent and ask for your Spirit to help us hold on to Jesus’ words.

One Word: Repent based on Jesus’ words

Daily Bread

Jacob Becomes Exceedingly Wealthy

Genesis 30:25-43

Key Verse: 30:43

Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

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