Sat.’s Devo - Thyatira and Sardis

Read: Amos 4:1-6:14; Revelation 2:18-3:6; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 29:21-22 In Chapter 4, Amos speaks first to the nobility and the elite of the nation. They oppressed all the common people and led the nation in idolatry. (Sounds like America.) They scoffed at God’s judgments and refused to be reformed. God turned them over to their own ways and it brought severe consequences. They refused to see that it was God’s hand judging them and calling them to repentance, so they must prepare for the last and worst judgment of all. In Chapter 5, Amos sings a funeral song to Israel. He calls them to repentance and declares the coming day of judgement. It will be terrible to the scorners who despise God’s words. God was tired of their rituals and meetings that had nothing to do with Him. They were self-righteous and showy to impress one another but God was not impressed. He knew their hearts. Because of their rebellion, they would be taken far away to the east. In Chapter 6, Amos denounces Zion and Samaria for their sense of false security. They trusted in their own strength and didn’t rely or call on the Lord for help. God would ruin their palaces and slaughter their people for their perverse injustice. God speaks of 90% of the people being killed. Only a remnant would survive. In Revelation God has a message to the churches of Thyatira and Sardis. Thyatira is commended for their love, faith and patient endurance. The complaint against them is their toleration of Jezebel who enticed others to sin and think it was okay. She and all her followers would be judged. Those who are victorious over this evil spirit will be given authority over all the nations to rule and smash the enemy. They will walk in the same authority that Jesus did. Sardis got the greatest rebuke in my opinion. They appeared to be alive and well while inside they were really dead. They were told to repent and turn to the Lord. If they didn’t wake up God would come to them like a thief. There were some in that church who hadn’t been soiled with evil and they would walk with the Lord in purity. The victorious would walk with God in white and their names would never be erased form the Book of Life. Everyone’s of God’s children are written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the earth but those who rebel will have their name erased from the book. (Revelation 13:8; 17:8) Lord, may we be victorious till the end.