Yesterday we discussed the warning Jesus gave to the church in Pergamum. He ends His letter with a promise IF they repent their idolatry, following false teachings and sexual immortality. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” (Rev 2:17)

The Lord is saying that we need to hear His voice and then do what it says. “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22) If we seek to understand His Word, He will be faithful. “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45)

The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways, so the way He will give gifts may be unexpected. When the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness, He gave them daily provision–manna from Heaven. “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut 8:3)

The Lord wants us to understand His Word and to live by His Word. He wants to give us wisdom and discernment. “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:32-35)

If we turn back to Him and away from whatever it is that we are putting before Him, He has promised us the hidden manna and the white stone with our names written on it. We will be victorious in Him and by His mercy and grace.

“The church in Pergamum refused to go deeper into God’s Word. Instead of making an impact on the world, the world made an impact on the church. The ancient church was actually attached to a pagan temple. It became irrelevant, powerless, and, in the end, nonexistent. Are you listening to what the Spirit is saying? If all church members were like you, would the church be more like the world, or would the church be more powerful in its witness?” (Anne Graham Lotz) He is calling us to go deeper into His Word, and to act upon what He tells us to do. What is your response?