What happened to the Church of Smyrna?
Can you believe a new year is here? Time does truly fly by, and life is not as long as one would like to think. 2023 comes with many hopes and expectations. I hope God will continue to lead our church, and may God continue to work on our hearts to change us into the people He needs us to be. I guess that’s the most exciting part of a new year. Our minds are too limited, but with God, He has designs that go beyond our scope and imagination. Knowing what God can do in our lives excites me. I know whatever He has for me will be good. I did not say easy or pleasurable, but good. God has more beauty and joy ahead of us, and I can’t wait to see what God has in stored for each one of us, and for our church.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Our second church in our study of the seven churches is the church of Smyrna. Oh, how this church suffered. Many lives were put in hardship, and thousands of Christians died in the hands of the enemy. For all the difficulty that the early church went through, it didn’t stop them from doing God’s work. These people did not die in vain. It was because of the faithfulness shown by the suffering saints, the gospel was taken to the hearts of evil men and women. Through witness of dedication through suffering, people saw the reality of the message of Jesus.
We do not live and die for vain theories or smooth sayings, no, we believe in the true Word of God. We see things that are bigger than ourselves, and we are willing to leave all of this behind that we might have our Savior. When the days become darkest, His people will shine as light. God has a job to do, He wants to save people. We might come to a very difficult 2023, but for the sake of God’s kingdom, let us take every opportunity to grow our faith in Jesus, and pray for opportunity to show His light to the world. The world might be crumbling before us, but God’s people will be transformed into the character of Christ. Let the world see Jesus in all of us, let our church be the place Christ resides. Let us Rejoice in all things, may God win the day, and may He come soon.
Connected to the Vine
-Pastor Danny