Read Revelation 3:8-9 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
- How does Jesus describe the believers in Philadelphia?
- What has Jesus already done for them?
- What will He do?
Reflect
Jesus opened a door for His message to spread in and beyond Philadelphia, and no one could close that door. Jesus celebrated the believers who saw the opportunity and responded with obedience, even when times were hard. They didn’t abandon His way of living when they had little strength remaining.
It can be easy to follow Jesus when everything is going well in our lives. But our faith is shown when we obey Him even in trials: loving others when they don’t love us in return, showing the fruit of the Spirit when our flesh wants to respond, or giving God praise in every circumstance. We don’t obey God’s Word to “earn” our salvation – we are only saved by Jesus’ finished work on the cross. We obey to trust in Him over our flesh and Satan.
God is after something deeper than just following rules. He cares about your character, your actions when no one is watching, and your hope in Jesus when you have nothing left to stand on. When you have little strength remaining, obedience is what leads you to the source of life. Let Jesus give you His strength.
Respond
- Has there been a time when obeying God was easy? What made it easier than other situations?
- Is there a difficult circumstance that you or someone you know is walking through right now? If you are, what would it look like to remain obedient even in that trial? If someone you know is, how could you encourage them?
- Who or what do you turn to when you need strength? If it isn’t Jesus, what step can you take towards Him today?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.