Revelation 2:10

New International Version (NIV)

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Meditation

In the shortest of the seven letters to the churches, Jesus brought no complaints against the church in Smyrna; only a commendation for their spiritual richness in spite of their affliction and poverty (Rev. 2:8-9). They were poor materially, because they would not compromise their faith like some of the other churches did. They were denied many social privileges as a result of their uncompromising stance on the cultic practices of the Roman culture; yet they maintained the integrity of their faith, which yields eternal riches. What a church that was!

Today, many are compromising their faith for economic and social expediency. They justify their failings by saying, “that’s the prevailing situation today, and you can’t do otherwise if you want to survive”. Yes, there is a price to pay for genuine faith, a cross to carry for true discipleship of Jesus Christ (Lk. 9:23-26), but He is able to sustain the faithful in every situation (Is. 43:2).

A compassionate and gracious God that He is, Jesus revealed the imminent persecution to them (Rev. 2:10). Trying times were ahead, but the Lord of the church encouraged them to be fearless and faithful. He is the initiator of their faith, and He would stand with them to the end of it (8; Heb. 12:2). No matter what the government of the day did to them, Jesus admonished the church to remain true to their faith in Him (Rev. 2:10). That’s what we miss these days. We often cower under threat and easily succumb to external pressure. We have become unassertive and timid before the world. If only we will heed Jesus’ rebuke to the disciples after He calmed the storm: “Where is your faith?” (Lk. 8:25)

1. Isn’t it wonderful to have a Master who knows our now and future events and has plans to take care of us (Rev. 9-10)?
2. Why can’t we trust Him who knows the devil’s plans concerning His church today (10)? Doesn’t our Lord Jesus know how Satan uses people to accomplish his wicked plans against us (Eph. 6:10-18)?
3. Doesn’t He know how to keep us from those snares and sustain us from the storm, if we have to endure them (Ps. 91:3-16)?
4. Just as Jesus encouraged the congregation of Smyrna to be fearless and faithful, “even to the point of death” (10); can we also be bold and courageous in our stand against the treachery of this world for His name’s sake?
5. As He assured the saints of Smyrna of their reward, the crown of life; can we also encourage ourselves with the same promise (James 1:12)?

I pray we will take our stand for the Lord Jesus in every circumstance and situation (Dan. 1:8), trusting His faithfulness to secure us in Himself.

So: May you also remain faithful to Him as Savior and Protector; and may His joy be your strength (Neh. 8:10) till final victory is won on the shores of heaven.

Even when we are faithless, Jesus is faithful!

Shalom