Revelation 2:12–17 (ESV)
To the Church in Pergamum
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.14But 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.15So also you
have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.17He 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.’
Jesus urges the congregation in Pergamum to repent of the pagan practices into which they were slipping and to follow the example of one
who stood fast, even to the point of death. Sadly, compromising the Gospel and committing sexual sins remain problems today. Yet, Jesus offers us repentance and forgiveness also. He even prepares for us a seat at the messianic banquet that never ends.
I pray: Lord, I thank You for the godly example of those that surrendered their lives rather than deny Your name. Give me a similar unwavering faith, that I may ever
hold fast Your name. Amen. (LSB)