Hold Fast to My Name

Lord, help me grab hold of the truths You want to impart to me today as I study Your Word.


"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write ... "I know your works, and here you dwell, where satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith ... " (Revelation 2:12-13)


What do you do when you find yourself living right in the midst of a hellish situation - can you serve Jesus there? The church of Pergamos was commended for doing so.


Here was a church right on the devil's doorstep. The city was a center of emperor worship, teeming with licentiousness, immorality, debauchery and idolatry. Yet in this horrible nest of satanic activity, there was a little colony from heaven - a testament church. And these people stood true and tall for Jesus even there in hell's headquarters.


They had not denied the Lord Jesus Christ or His precepts, though they could have spared themselves persecution and even martyrdom, had they simply kept quiet. They could have just whispered His name among themselves, not been so vociferous, gladly proclaiming Jesus as Lord.


Some of us choose to do that, don't we? We make excuses for not living as we should because of the office where we work or the school we attend or the family we live in.


But this passage tells us we can be Christians and live for Jesus no matter what the circumstances. In fact, have you ever thought that God may have put you in that devilish work environment so you can be His lighthouse? Or that God placed you in your family so you can witness to them? Perhaps God has you in a particular school so you can bear witness for Jesus Christ. After all, you don't take a lighthouse and put it in downtown Manhattan, but you put it out on some rocky, barren, craggy coast where it can do some good.


Purpose today that no matter what your situation, you're going to be true to Jesus' name and to His faith.


~Adrian Rogers~