You Are Rich!

Ezekiel 1-3; Revelation 2 

“’I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich!...Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.’”

Revelation 2:9, 10

The risen Christ, with nail holes in his hands, knows the afflictions of the church in Smyrna and every other persecuted, local church around the world. Just as Jesus “endured the cross, scorning its shame (Hebrews 12:2)”, so, too, will we be called to daily take up our cross and follow him. Persecution and testing for our faith is not to be rare, but normal. We should expect it, not fear it. The source of this testing is the devil who opposes the Lamb of God and his faithful followers. The perspective of Jesus was that despite afflictions and poverty, the church in Smyrna was rich in faith, hope, and love. Just as Jesus overcame testing, we, too, are called to overcome. Let’s pray for those persecuted, and also consider why we value the absence of persecution and its consequences for our spiritual health and growth. Testing is normal in a spiritual battle, unless, of course, we have dropped our weapons and left the field.

“Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith, hope, and love in the tests of living on mission, for your glory.”