Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

I am want to believe that because Nicolas was chosen according to the requirements of Acts 6:4 that the far reaching consequences of his ministry would have been beyond his ability to foresee. I too have fallen into this mystery of ministry, where my good intentions have led to unintended consequences.

We who serve should be aware that service and growth in Christ work hand in hand. Duty to one cannot and should not be sacrificed to the need of the other.

Allow me to push on to the point of this devotional. While we do not know for sure the actions of Nicolas that led to hateful practices, we do know the results and we do have related warnings. It is such a grace and merciful pleasure to be born in this generation which has not only the complete bible but a treasure troth of studies, commentaries and related testimonies as witness to the errors and consequences of men who fell before us.

I acknowledged my lack of understanding in a thing despised by our Lord. I studied this and came to a deeper appreciation of the grace in which I stand. I shall not judge Nicolas in his actions nor motivations for I was not there and I have no clear record to answer all the questions. I do however have this bible and many wonderful works by learned men to understand the importance of having my quiet time, bible studies, and growth in Christ.

My advice to everyone is not to take anything anyone says as gospel but rather an invitation to check the scriptures for yourselves. Do not rely on me or any man to be your source of truth. You have the Spirit of Truth in you to lead you in all righteousness.

At the end of Acts 6:5 we find Nicolas who was a pagan, became a Jew and then became a Christian. Whether fair or unjustified, this Nicolas is credited with a practice which led to a following, which was found in the Revelation 2 warnings.

Would the practices of 2 Peter 1:2-9 have prevented that sequence of errors?

My answer to that would be yes and only for one reason. It occurs in verse 2 Peter 1:9 and reads this way; cannot see afar off. The warning being that if we neglect our growth in Christ according to Peter’s encouragement, we will lack the long range vision of consequences.

Now I can see how and why Nicolas was chosen. He met the initial requirements for the task at hand. He met a need, he served tables while the apostles attended to weightier matters.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Given that this service for Nicolas had time restraints, what happened to Nicolas when that service ended? It is possible that he sought out his pagan roots to bring the light of the gospel to people who he understood and could relate to in ministry. Was the timing of his actions such as so he did not get the instructions given others in Acts 15:28-29 “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”

It is also likely that Nicolas’ ministry might have missed Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 8:9-11 “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?”