Deb preached on Christ’s fourth letter to Asia Minor in Revelation, finding both troubling judgments and extravagant promises. Addressing the question of how Christians can know they haven’t fallen prey to false teachings, she offered this as part of Christ’s answer:

Woven throughout this letter to Thyatira is the word “works” or “deeds.” We see it repeated four times. At the start, in verse 19, Jesus commends the church by saying “I know your deeds,” or I know your works of love and faith. When speaking of next-generation Jezebel in verse 22, he refers to “her ways” or literally “her works.” In verse 23, we read that the believers will be judged according to their “deeds,” or their works. And in verse 26, the one who “does my will” or, literally, “keeps my works” to the end will be rewarded. Deeds, or works, or acting rightly out of faith is an important indicator that our beliefs are genuine. Our works are the dashboard showing the evidence that our beliefs are sincerely held, that we take seriously the fact that we’re one of God’s people. The things we do - the choices we make every day - they matter.