The Water’s Kind of Rough, But Come on In
How would you react if Jesus came up to you and introduced Himself in this way, “Hello. I am the beginning and the end. I died and came back to life and I know you.” Are you relieved or worried? Have you lived your life in such a way that you are pleased that Jesus knows you or are you concerned because He sees your life?
I imagine the church at Smyrna breathed a sigh of relief because they had a clue about what it meant to be persecuted and remain faithful. The people of Smyrna didn’t join the church without being completely aware of what they were getting into. They suffered. They suffered a lot, even to their deaths. But Jesus introduced Himself by claiming power over death and encouraged them to remain faithful because their persecution would only last for a set amount of time. At the end of that time, they would receive a crown, but not just any crown of plain old gold; a “stephanos”, a crown of joy and victory! They were willing to die for their faith and were promised a reward of complete joy!
Are we willing to die for our faith? Here in Roanoke, Va, we have little opportunity to physically die for our faith in Christ, but what about socially? Are we ready to take our social life and give it to Jesus? Are we ready to stand out in a crowd of our peers and be completely sold out for God? What would that cost us? A few friends, perhaps a social status. But what will your silence about the love of God cost them?
What if we were sold out, all in, with nothing left to give because we have given everything we have, everything we are to the cause of Christ? What would this valley look like? What would Rhythm look like? What would you/I look like?
Just Wondering,
Shanna
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