What Are the Seven Letters in Revelation?
The Book of Revelation begins with seven letters written by God to seven different churches in what is now modern-day Turkey. These letters contain specific messages for each church, but they also hold valuable lessons for us today. We can know that because each letter ends with the same statement: "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches." So these letters are not just historical documents; they aren't just messages that apply to one church; they are messages to all believers. If we have ears, we must listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. 

The Complaint Against Pergamum
God starts the letter with praising the church for their faithfulness to Him in the middle of a perverted society. However, God had a few complaints against the church. They tolerated teachings and cultural beliefs of the day that led people astray. These teachings encouraged idolatry and sexual immorality, leading the church to marry into the culture of the day rather than staying true to God's Word. The same thing happens to us to today. We have a tendency to drift away from God and marrying into the cultural norms of the day. 

How to Stay Rooted in Your Faith?
BelieveThe first step to staying rooted in your faith is to believe in Jesus. Colossians 2:2 emphasizes the importance of understanding God's mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. What you believe about Jesus is the most important thing in your life. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that He rose from the dead?
BehaveYour belief in Jesus should change how you act and live. Colossians 2:6-7 encourages us to let our roots grow down into Christ and to build our lives on Him. This means that our actions should reflect our faith, showing the world that we are followers of Jesus.
BewareFinally, be aware that you have a real enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy your faith. Colossians 2:8 warns us not to be captured by empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and spiritual powers. Stay vigilant and rooted in your relationship with Jesus to withstand these attacks.

Challenge for the Week
Challenge yourself to deepen your relationship with Jesus. Reflect on what you believe about Him, how your actions reflect that belief, and be aware of the spiritual battles you face.
Questions to Think Through
​1. Do you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins?
2. How does your behavior reflect your faith in Jesus?
3. Are you aware of the spiritual battles you face, and how are you staying rooted in your relationship with Jesus?​

Are We Too Comfortable with the Gospel?
Let me ask you a hard question right from the start...Have we become so familiar with the Gospel that it no longer changes our lives?

The Call to Incline
In Revelation, God addresses seven churches, and His message to the church in Ephesus is particularly relevant. He commends their hard work and endurance but holds one thing against them: they have forsaken their first love. He was calling them to incline their hearts back to Him, to move from a state of comfort to one of active engagement with the Gospel.

Fight the Recline
The same statement is more than likely true for us as well. God is calling us to incline our hearts back to Him. Why is the heart the big deal here? Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." According to Proverbs, who we give our hearts to will determine the direction of our lives. The psalmist in Psalm 119:112 says, "I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever." This implies that inclining our hearts is an active choice, not a passive state. We don't naturally default to incline...we naturally default to recline. So how do we fight against the recline? 

Revelation 2:5 provides a three-step process to fight against the recline:
1. **Consider how far you've fallen**: Where is God on your list? Is He first, 10th, 100th?
2. **Repent**: Tear down anything that is in the place that God deserves. Put Him first again in your life.
3. **Do the things you did at first**: Remember what God has done for you and how His saving grace has brought you from where you were to where you are now.

Questions to Think Over
1. Have I forsaken my first love for God?
2. What practical steps can I take to incline my heart back to Him?
​3. How can I guard my heart to ensure God remains my top priority?
Let's commit to inclining our hearts to God, rediscovering the power of the Gospel, and living out our faith with renewed passion and purpose.