Friday after the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 24, 2021 by under
Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11 (NKJV)
2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’”
Devotion
Christ tells saints at Smyrna that they will suffer persecution at the hand of the Jews. (He calls the Jews “a synagogue of Satan” because, while they claim to be God’s people, they are not, since they reject God’s Son.) The devil is the one behind the persecution because it is he who will throw some of them into prison. The devil and false church will do all they can to bring the saints into danger so that they renounce the faith to avoid suffering.
Christ tells them not to be afraid of the coming tribulation. The one who encourages them to overcome by patient endurance is the one who was dead but now lives, Christ Jesus our Lord. The devil and false church brought great suffering and tribulation upon Jesus, culminating in shameful death. Yet He overcame by patiently doing God’s will and commending His spirit into His Father’s hands.
Christ encouraged the Smyrnaeans (and all the faithful in every age) to overcome by remaining steadfast in faith even unto death, just as He Himself was faithful unto death, even the death of the cross. He says that the one who endures in faith unto death, whether they die due to persecution or not, will receive the crown of life. Even though faithful Christians die, they are not hurt by the second death of hell because of their faithful endurance in the one who was dead but now lives. May God grant us His Spirit to overcome each day by faith.
Prayer: Lord, we pray Thee, that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us, and make us continually given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
