Friday after the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on October 7, 2022 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
“He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” The devil is coming for you; you just have to overcome him. However, you’re in trouble if you think you can do it yourself.
One of the chief lies of the devil is that faithfulness to the Gospel depends on our personal strength of character. When the Lord Jesus says, “be faithful,” and, “he who overcomes…,” the devil wants us to think that these are works which we do for ourselves. Instead, they are works of the Holy Spirit in us. If we trust in our own faithfulness, we will fail. But if we trust in the Christ to preserve us, He will.
What does it mean to trust in Christ over ourselves? It means to pray, “God, the devil is too strong for me; help me!” It means to go to church and receive Christ’s Body and Blood. It means to hear the Gospel preached and to believe it. God will preserve you from the devil through these things. Therefore, He tells the people in Smyrna, and us, “I know your … poverty (but you are rich).” That is, not rich in earthly things, but rich in the gifts of God. The devil may imprison and kill us because we are weaker than he, but the Lord Jesus is stronger, and He will give the crown of life to those who pray to Him in 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. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
