“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you…” – Revelation 2:14
Yike! That sounds ominous. What would you think if you heard those words from Jesus? “Josh, I have a few things against you…” To be honest, this time, when I read these words that Jesus spoke to the church in Pergamum, I found myself thinking, “Wow! Only a few things!? Not bad!” Honestly, the more I considered it, the more I felt like that would be a win! If Jesus looked at my life and said He only saw a few problems, I’d be pretty happy! But this realization got me thinking . . . why do we tend to beat ourselves up so much when we find a few things wrong?
We tend to think of repentance as a heavy, shame-filled practice that people only go through when we are new believers, or when we’ve really messed up. But repentance is supposed to be a normal, ongoing part of the Christian life. In fact, Martin Luther quite literally nailed this truth down in the very first of his 95 Theses which said, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ He willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Did you hear that? The “entire life!” Repentance was never supposed to be a one-time event that brings shame, but a lifestyle that brings forgiveness and life.
This realization has helped me reimagine what repentance is all about. Instead of seeing it as condemnation, I’m trying to understand it for what it really is… invitation. Jesus isn’t pointing things out in our lives to make us feel bad about ourselves—He’s inviting us to live in the freedom and grace He already purchased for us! When He told that church that they needed to repent, He wasn’t rejecting them or shaming them. He was drawing them back to Himself.
So now, when you and I see that there might be “a few things” that need to change in our lives, don’t be too discouraged. Instead, try to be grateful. Grateful for the fact that Jesus doesn’t walk away from us in our mess… thankful that He leans in, speaks truth, offers grace, and gives us the chance to turn around and keep following Him.
Remember, our goal isn’t perfection… It’s staying close to Jesus. And often, or quite regularly, that will mean being willing to say back to him, “You’re right. I messed up. Please help me change.” That’s not failure. That’s faith.
Josh Rose
Family Pastor