Big Faith (Rev. 2:10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

02/18/2005

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Big Faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelation 2:10

 

            Message of the verse:  10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  (NAS95)  10 Have no fear of what you will suffer. I tell you now that the devil is going to cast some of your number into prison where your faith will be tested and your distress will last for ten days. Be faithful in the face of death and I will give you the crown of life. (Philips)

            Jesus tells these believers not to fear even though some of them were going to die for their faith in Him.  Having courage does not mean the absence of fear, but having the assurance that Jesus Christ is totally in control of all things.  It is not certain as to what is meant by the “ten days,” so there is not much use trying to interpret it.  It is interesting to realize that Jesus said that the Devil was about to put some of these believer into prison, and this is a reminder that the Devil does have power, but he can only do what the Lord allows him to do.  The Devil asked to swift Peter like wheat after Jesus was crucified, so he must get permission from the Lord before he does things. 

            Jesus goes on to say that they are to remain faithful until death and He would give them a crown of life.  Those that die for the cause of Christ will receive the crown of life, and I believe that same crown will be given to those who do not fall into temptations, but trust the Lord to see them through them. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that a person has to have eyes of faith to undergo what these and countless other people have gone through by giving up their life for the cause of Christ.  Jim Elliot put it into perspective when he said “why give up what you cannot keep to keep what you cannot loose.”  These believers had the kind of faith to have someone say wonderful things about, and Jesus Christ did exactly.

 

The Word of God was both challenging and refreshing to my heart as I read it today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To learn to see the Lord Jesus Christ as these believers from Smyrna had.