Revelation Letters: Thyatira

Revelation Letters: Thyatira

Bible Blast: Read Revelation 2:18-29

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 2:19

One of my best days of 2010 happened when I found out that my good friend Dr. James Dobson had recommended one of my books in his best-selling book Bringing Up Girls! He said that my original Secret Keeper Girl mother/daughter “date” resource is one of the best resources for a mom to use when raising her little girl. I am not ashamed to say that I screamed joyfully at the top of my lungs when I found out! Of course, I told my mom first.

It feels so good when someone notices your hard work. Let’s say you’ve recently started piano lessons and you’ve finally mastered “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It would be great to hear your instructor say, “You’ve done so well!” instead of saying, “Big deal. I can’t wait until you can play one of Beethoven’s sonatas.” Jesus told the believers in Thyatira that he noticed their “constant improvement” in their love, faith, service, and patient endurance. He didn’t say, “What you’re doing isn’t good enough.” Jesus is an encourager!

We are to try to be like God who is perfect (see Matthew 5:48), but we won’t be entirely perfected until we’re with him in heaven. Until then we are “to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with . . . God” (Micah 6:8).

The Christians of Thyatira must have been so encouraged to hear positive words, because it sounds like an evil woman named Jezebel was all over their city spreading bad ideas, especially about not being faithful and true in marriage. Knowing that Jesus saw their spiritual growth may have been just what they needed to overcome discouragement about Jezebel’s influence on the people in their city.

Did you know the word encourage literally means to “breathe courage” into another person? In this letter, I can see why Jesus breathed courage into the Thyatira church right away. They were feeling weak. Encouragement from Jesus has the power to help a tired person get up and keep on obeying.

Girl Gab: Take some time to “breathe courage” into each other today. You can encourage each other verbally right now or later after you’ve had time to think about it, or you could write it in a note. You could even play a song that would bring encouragement and strength.