Revelation 3:7-10
7 “And to the [e]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Welcome home thou good and faithful servant! These are the words that every believer looks forward to hearing the Lord say to them when that great day comes. The church in Philadelphia was on its way there. All that Jesus has to say to them is good, he holds nothing against them and all he does is encourage them to remain faithful to the end!
As with all the other Churches, Jesus tells this church that he knows their works and because their works are pleasing before him, he has set an open door before them that no man can close. What encouragement!
Sometimes we get to a place in our Christian walk where we wonder if God sees all that we are doing for him and if he cares about the hardships and persecution we are going through. Well he sees everything, he knows our works and our hearts and he rewards us. Jesus proclaims that he has set before them an open door and no one can shut it, NOONE!
Nobody on the face of this earth no matter how powerful they may think they are can close the door that God opens for you because you have remained faithful!
Our encouragement is to remain faithful, keep his word and not deny his name.
He will make our enemies come and worship before our feet and he will make them know that he (God) has loved us. This reminds me of Psalm 23, he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Those who remain faithful God will preserve from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world. Could that be talking about the rapture and the great tribulation? I wonder.
Jesus is coming back quickly and we ought to hold on firmly to that which we have lest someone takes our crown away from us. If we remain faithful, Jesus will make us a pillar in the temple of his God!
Reflections
God sees and takes note of everything even that which man may overlook, downplay, misunderstand or criticize. What perspective does that give you concerning your labor in the Lord
Do you have an area in your life that you are barely hanging on, you have not fallen but it seems like you are hanging by a shoestring? What area is it?
Take some time to pray and ask God to give you the strength to hold on and remain faithful in that area.
