Living to Please God (4)
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. - Revelation 2:8-9
Yesterday, we started looking at the church of Smyrna. Jesus called it a rich church, but the world called it poor and irritated. Whose report will you believe? We should fear Jesus' judgment and not people because even though people may criticize us, they are not our judge for we shall all stand before His judgment seat one day to give an account to Him of what we have done with our calling or ministry. The time is too short to stay unfaithful to the mandate of Heaven.
We should not glorify lack, for the Lord our provider is more than sufficient to meet our needs. But if it is necessary to compromise or bring down God's standard to obtain what the world offer, then it is no longer a good success but a bad success. A wealth that separates a man from God, the source of such wealth is a bad success. What the Lord promised us is a good success, and if there is a good success, there must be also a bad success.
Jesus defines the limit of their trials and if there is no purpose, the Lord would not have allowed it. Hear the comfort of the spirit in the tenth verse of the second chapter (Revelation 2:10). God is not looking for how to get us out of test and trials. When we face test, before a need arises, provision is waiting for the righteous. This is beyond human understanding.
Prayer: Help me O Lord in my walk of faith and love that I would become everything you plan for me in Jesus Name. Amen!
Further Reading: 1 Kings 18:21; Philippians 1:9-11
One-year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21
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