In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna Smith continue their study of the words of Christ to the church at Thyatira. This church was commended by Christ for the fact that their works of today were greater than the works they did when they first started. So there was increasing efforts to serve their community for the sake of Christ that did not miss the gaze of the One whose eyes were like a blazing fire. But along with commendation came condemnation for a level of sin and syncretism that was so bad, it negated all the positive affirmation and blessing of God. Jesus said of them that, they tolerated that woman Zezebel who called herself a prophet. Through their engagement with this pagan woman, sexual immorality filled the church and the Lord did not like it at all. Even with that reality, a deeper dive in to the passage led to the discovery of some very godly men who had historic and expansive impact through the then known world. Men like Bernard of Clarivaux, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Anselm were all men in the Roman church who were the precursors of the Reformation movement Martin Luther brought to the church in the 1500's. These men were all from the church in Thyatira. But going back to Zezebel and her influence in the church, the Smiths remind us all that both the grace and righteous judgement of the Lord were on full display for not just her, but those who fell into her demonic arms. It says that the Lord gave her time to repent, and called those who followed her to repentance as well. It's great to know, the Smiths remind us, that God is patiently awaiting us to return to Him when we seek genuine repentance from our sins. But also, it's important to remember that while His forgiveness of our sins is total, all encompassing, and liberating to the soul, we are not necessarily delivered from the consequences of our sin. We may be plagued by those consequences for a long time after we've experienced the forgiveness of the Lord. What a sobering reminder for us to seek to walk in obedience to both the Word of God and the God who is the author of that Word. Are you catching these realities, dear friend? The Smiths pray we all do as we move forward in our Indigenous Faith!