Read the Word:
Revelation 2:8-11
Meditate on the Word:
The first-century church at Smyrna dealt with something that the global church still deals with today. They were being slandered for their beliefs. To be clear, slander is saying something false for the purpose of destroying one’s reputation. Likely, the slander that the church at Smyrna faced from the Jews was either that they were blasphemous (the same accusation used against Jesus at the Sanhedrin), or that they were engaged in insurrection against Rome. Both of these charges would have been false and could have resulted in death. This slander could potentially destroy more than their reputation; it could have caused their murders.
Today, there are people who slander the church in an attempt to destroy the reputation of the Christ we worship. They attack our beliefs and values and even resort to personal attacks. It is interesting that Jesus (through John) tells the church at Smyrna to “Be faithful until death.” Many Christians in the first few centuries of the church were martyred for Christ. In many parts of the world, this still happens. In the church in the United States today, we are not likely to be martyred, however we are also called to remain “faithful until death.” This means that we must daily wake up with the mindset that we will be faithful to Christ until He calls us home. Let us ponder on that today.
Pray the Word:
Thank the Lord for the strength that He gives you for today.
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