Hold On

 “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

— Revelation 3:10-11

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Your words to the church in Philadelphia are incredibly encouraging and edifying. They have suffered patiently. They have kept Your word to persevere. Since they have endured patiently and persevered steadfastly, Your reward is to keep them from the “hour of trial” that is going to come on the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. This hour of trial is a moment of time, certain, definite, and fixed, that is going to arrive. When it does, it will be a time of testing to prove or examine the faith, virtue, and character of those who dwell on the earth. This church is being told they will be protected from that hour.

You state very clearly, “I am coming soon.” Literally, “I am coming quickly, speedily, without delaying.” Your coming will be suddenly, quickly, with speed. It won’t be gradual. Lord, may Your glorious appearing come quickly! Your exhortation to the church in Philadelphia is “Hold on.” Hold on to what you have. What they have is an open door of evangelistic opportunity. They have a reliance on God. They have a faithfulness to Jesus. As they hold fast to these things, they would not lose their crown, no one would take their crown from them. We are to never forget that the one most likely to steal our crown from us is ourself. We must hold onto what we have so our crown is not given to another.

Lord Jesus, while I await Your soon-coming return to this earth and trust You to protect us from the hour of trial that will come upon this earth, may I hold on tightly to what You have so graciously given me. May I endeavor to hold fast so that when I stand before You, I receive the crown You have prepared for me.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." — 1 Peter 2:21-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly. Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his o...
Read more

Suffering

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, We glory in our sufferings. The word Paul uses here means to "glory in a thing", "to boast", "to rejoice." He's contrasting his previous thought that we boast or rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in our hope of God and  we rejoice in our sufferings. The picture forming in my mind is lifting hands, shouting with joy, as I rejoice in God and then doing the same thing in the midst of my suffering. Yeah. I don't do that. I don't rejoice when suffering comes. I do the opposite. I complain. I sulk. I moan. I am irritated. I am angry. I am resentful. But do I rejoice? No. Yet this is the very thing Paul says we are to do. And it's because of the incredible fruitfulness our suffering brings. Suffering produces perseverance....
Read more

Faithful Stewards

 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." — 1 Peter 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the second time Peter instructs believers to love one another deeply, fervently. Our love for one another overlooks small offenses. Without our deep and fervent love, every little irritation becomes a grievance. It should not be that way in the body of Christ. Because this early church met in homes, hospitality was necessary. To be hospitable means welcoming people into your home, but ...
Read more