Corona Devo 3105

I love a good book.  I always have.

Driving for on childhood vacations, I vividly remember my dad asking me to "look out the window" or to "put down that book", so that I might catch sight of the Smoky Mountains, a hawk, or any number of natural wonders that we were passing by. 

I'm sure I did look up, but only briefly, and always, my nose went right back into the pages of whatever book I was reading.  I love a good book.

I kept reading, and kept enjoying books.  "English" ended up being one of my college majors and (you guessed it), I read many great books along the way to attaining that degree.  And I liked it!  Because--I love a good book.

And speaking of which, the Bible is my favorite good book.  The Bible actually has the nickname: the Good Book.  It is a good book.  The best, really. 

In the last Book of the Bible (Revelation), God speaks to a few churches in order to correct and encourage them in their faith.   The Lord tells John to write a letter to seven different churches.

When the Lord addresses the church in Thyatira, He is supportive about some things:

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: (19) “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.   ~Revelation 2:18-19

The church in Thyatira is up to some good.  The Lord has seen their love, faith, service,their patient endurance. 

The Lord also sees their constant improvement in all these things. 

These are encouraging and strong words of praise and encouragement for the church in Thyatira.  

But God's got a few other words for the church in Thyatira, and they are words of warning if they do not separate and stop being led astray by a woman who teaches them to commit sexual sin.  

 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. (21) I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.   ~Revelation 2:20-21

These words, this letter that God sent an angel to John to tell him to write--this letter was to the church in Thyatira, but this letter was to us too.

How can we interpret it for us?  How can we take what is said and search our lives and hearts for how it applies to us?

 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. (21) I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.  ~Revelation 2:20-21

They are being led astray.  How?  By a woman teaching them to commit sexual sin.  And to eat food offered to idols.

The woman they are following does not listen to God and does not want to turn away from her immorality. 

Are we (you and me) being led astray by sexual sin?  Is someone teaching us to commit sexual sin?

It could be through visuals.  Through pornography of pictures--online, on TV, or in printed materials.

I am ashamed to admit that watching a TV series the other day, I saw way more than I should ever have seen.  It shocked me.  It shamed me.  And I have to believe there is an underlying motive to lead me (and other viewers) astray, and to teach us to commit sexual sin.  Otherwise why (in the world) would they show such filth on TV (or online)?

Hear the Lord's correction to our sexual sin today:  “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin... (Revelation 2:20).

But these things can happen through other mediums as well, and print is another one of them.  

Like me, do you love a good book?  

"Good books" are being re-defined and there is a Jezebel-spirit behind the latest best sellers among women.  Droves of women are reading, and meeting-to-discuss, and permitting smutty literature to lead them astray and to teach them to commit sexual sin.

The written word is beautiful, but not when it is detailing sexual sin and women are hanging on every word.  

We are permitting smut to become an idol and an area of worship in our lives through books.  

I lament to know of at least one dear husband and father who is now divorced and broken because his wife permitted Jezebel-authors to lead her astray and to teach her to commit sexual sin.

Yes, we love a good book, but Brothers and (especially!) Sisters in Christ: reject and repent-of and repel bad books and books that lead us astray and teach us to commit sexual sin (Revelation 2:20).  We (who are in-Christ) must not love these bad books.

God does not sugar-coat or use flowery-language when He writes of the consequences for Jezebel and for those reading/following/joining her in committing sexual sin.

Do we love a good book?  Try loving what God writes in His Book (the Bible) about what will happen to us or to those that choose the route of sexual sin with unrepentance:

“Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. (23) I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.  ~Revelation 2:22-23

God is serious, and we had better take Him at His Word in His Book.

But..what will happen to those of us who flip past the smutty channels on TV, online, or in magazines?  What if we exercise our right not to read the bad books, but we (instead) focus and delight in reading the best "good book" ever: The Bible?

God's glad we asked.

He's got a message for us too:

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you (25) except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. (26) To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. 

(27) They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.

(28) They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 

(29) “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.  ~Revelation 2:18-29

~~~ 

I love a good book, and (say it with me!), we LOVE God's good book.  The Bible has a happy ending for those who are seeking the Lord.  

Let's keep holding tightly to what we have.  Let's obey the Lord to the very end.  Let's have ears to hear and let's understand what God is saying to the churches...to us.

Let's keep loving a good book--it's called The Bible.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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