Scripture to Read: Revelation 2:14
We read yesterday how many of the believers in Pergamum were holding tightly to the Name of Jesus, and they did not deny their faith in Him. But, in Revelation 2:14-15, our Lord rebukes the believers for allowing some to hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Note here in Revelation 2:14, But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. In Numbers 22-25, Balaam tried to use his gift of prophecy to curse Israel in exchange for money. Balaam also tempted the Israelite men to compromise by being unfaithful to our Lord by prostituting themselves with Moabite women. Jesus rebuked some of the believers in Pergamum for committing acts of sexual sin by following the teaching of Balaam. Those believers were stumbling blocks to others in Pergamum. Jesus, in Matthew 18:6, says this about stumbling blocks, “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus says that a stumbling block is better off drowning himself than to cause someone else to stumble. Jesus definitely hates when someone causes someone else to stumble. We must guard against walking in our “flesh” (Galatians 5:13-23) so we don’t cause anyone to stumble.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about stumbling blocks and not submitting to your flesh?
2. How are you actively guarding your heart so that you are not giving in to your flesh but walking in God’s Spirit in you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!