“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

Isaiah 42 speaks of those who have ears but do not hear and eyes do not see.  There is a tendency to hear what we want to hear and have our bias confirmed.  Open your heart and the Lord will give you wisdom, understanding and strength to persevere.  Trust the Lord and the Gospel and humbly walk with the Lord, your Creator and Redeemer.  He will make of us what we will become, but first we must be conformed to the image of Christ.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, to receive the full message of Your Gospel.  Open the ears of my mind to receive understanding and wisdom.  Take away the doubts and fears that remain within me so that I may be Yours.  You created me.  You have redeemed me.  You have made possible the way for all who believe.  Guide me on the narrow path through all the treachery of the wicked of this world.

Lord Jesus, only with You and by Your gift of grace am I able to take even one step on the path to glory.  You are the author of my faith and You are leading me as You will.  Help me to remain in Your arms of love and mercy.  Guide me this day such that no matter what happens, I rely solely upon You.  Teach me what it means to live life.  Help me to live the life You have given me and become what You will make of me.  Amen.

“Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:15).

The church has been in a constant struggle since Jesus ascended.  Why? Because people are either going this way or that way and not truly following Jesus.  To the heretics, watch out, the battle of wickedness continues.  Many religious have spent the last five hundred years in a war of words.  Amongst all these wars is the simple truth of the Gospel.  It is time for Christians to stop being at war with one another.

Rightly so, Lord, have You unleashed all the rhetoric of the past few centuries.  The wicked use whatever they can to foster their wickedness – and it shows.  But the faithful continue to struggle to be faithful in a world of evil.  Let the words of my mouth be in harmony with Your Law and Gospel.  Guide me to do good, love You and my neighbor, and learn how to obey all Your commandments.

Lord Jesus, Your Word, which endures forever, shall never fail.  We live in a time when so many cheap words fly all over the place and people are functionally ignorant.  Help me to learn from You to hear and obey the words of everlasting life.  Guide me through the morass of the war of words so that my heart remains with You and subject to Your Gospel.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth and life.  Amen.

“So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:15).

Many in the church go the way of the Pharisees and become overly legalistic.  You know the type, “We never did it that way before.”  But there are the others who think, “Jesus saved us, so it does not matter what we do.”  If you are to become like Christ, then set your heart to work on becoming like Christ.  You and I are not to pick and choose what we believe.  We are to believe what the Lord has said.

Lord, I do have favorite verses, but keep me from focusing upon just a few verses so that I may receive the whole of the Word that You have given for our benefit.  I need to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, but also never to forget that it is You who makes all things possible.  Let me not stray from the narrow path but hold fast to Your word as I learn to obey all that You have commanded.

Lord Jesus, it is true that without You I can do nothing.  Help me, I pray, to always look to You, knowing I need Your grace, and living for that day when I will be with You in eternity.  Do not let me become cavalier in my attitude so that I simply say, “fiddlededee,” to doing good, loving my neighbor, or meditating upon Your word.  Lord, give me a heart that hungers for the truth.  Lead me ever closer to You.  Amen.

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality” (Revelation 2:14).

This world is filled with sensuality.  Our entertainment is built upon the premise, “If it feels good, do it.”  Feelings never satisfy, but people pursue them anyway.  What a tragedy this world is.  Such a waste that so much is sacrificed for nothing.  People live their lives to have a few futile moments of pleasure.  Do not abandon the way of the Lord in favor of such nonsense.

Lord, teach me the way of everlasting life.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through the temptations of sensuality.  Lead me into understanding so that I may learn how to love.  Teach me how to be faithful.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You there is all hope and a future.  Keep the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart pure in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to walk through the pitfalls of this age.  So many, all around me, are tugging, pushing, and making demands.  Help me to navigate through all these things so that I may come to look to You alone for hope and fulfilment.  Lord, You know what I need.  Give me wisdom to avoid the snares of wickedness in this age.  Amen.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:12-13).

The title “Satan” means one opposed to God, usually in reference to the devil.  There are many who are opposed to God and we are to learn how to stand firm and hold fast against those who would tempt us to not follow the Lord.  Do not be swayed, but even to the point of death, hold fast to the truth.  Live and even die for the truth.  Living and dying for a lie is absolute foolishness.

Lord, help me to see clearly that holding fast to You is not hard, but the only alternative there is in this foolish and hate-filled world.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and only in You is there life.  Help me to learn how to be Your witness and faithful no matter the cost.  Even though Satan be in this age and all around me, yet I do have the gift of Your grace to persevere.

Lord Jesus, You went to Your death, even a death upon the cross, to free those who would receive You, learn to love You and become like You.  Guide me this day to live into the life You have promised me.  Teach me to always hold fast to Your goodness and mercy.  May I be a true witness of Your goodness in this messed up world.  In You, Lord, I can do all things. Help me to do what You know I need to do.  Amen.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death”(Revelation 2:11).

There is the first death which awaits us all.  There is also the second death which is the eternal separation from the Lord.  Do not fear the first as most in this world do.  Fear the second, for anything you think bad in this world pales in comparison to what the second death brings.  Accept the love of the Lord and live into the life He gives you through faith.  Know that in Him is life and liberty.

Lord, I do not fully understand, and I do fear, but it is pointless.  This world sells the lie of living forever when we all know that everyone dies.  The Lord loves me and I am going to die.  But this little death is not the big deal.  Yes, you want to live, but learn how to live the new life and live forever.  It will be on the Lord’s terms, not your own.  Learn how to overcome this world through the One who has overcome the world.

Lord Jesus, I need saving.  Only You are able to do what must be done.  Guide me now and forever to live the life You give, knowing that though I will die, I shall live forever with You.  In the mystery of the faith, lift up my countenance to face all obstacles knowing that You are with me and the nothing anyone else will do can change the simple fact that I am yours forever.  Amen

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Jesus told us that the one who finds life must lose it and the one who clings to their life will lose it.  You are not in control.  Look around you and ask, “How many act as if they were in control?”  In our age of rebellion you will either go your way, or else go the way of the Lord.  Learn what it means to be faithful by turning to the Lord and He will teach you.  He who redeemed you will stay with you through all trials.

Lord, You have warned me that there will be times of trial.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I do not look to myself, but look to You in all things.  Teach me what faithfulness means.  Take away from me the love of this world and teach me to stay the course You have set before me.  Whatever comes, it is only for a season, for the day is coming when all of this will pass away and I shall stand before You in eternity.

Lord Jesus, You have paid the price so that I can live into the new life You give.  Guide me to be faithful no matter the trials and tribulations that come my way.  Lead me in the faith You give and grant me the fortitude to stay the course.  Lord, You know what lies before me.  You alone have the strength to see me through.  Grant grace and mercy so that I remain faithful unto death.  Amen.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:8-9).

The opposition to the truth has always been present.  Even in the church, there are those who say they love the Lord, but they do not follow His commands, nor truly love Him.  Hatred and opposition is the mark of those who do not listen to and obey the Lord.  The Lord has commanded that we love.  Do not marvel at the hatred in this world.  Marvel that You see the evidence of the Lord’s presence every time there is love.

Lord, the world does want me to leave You and follow its ways.  I feel the tug every day.  Guide me away from the insanity of this world to see clearly that You have given the words of eternal life, just as Peter said.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that leads to the Father and help me to walk faithfully the path You have set before me.  Through all things, help me to overcome and hold fast to the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, You have sent Your Spirit so that those who are in You may hold fast to the truth You have revealed.  Guide me this day to hear Your words and act on them.  Lead my footsteps to walk humbly on the narrow path of faith and overcome the obstacles of this world.  In all things, keep my eye upon the prize of the abundant life which is already mine in and through You.  Amen.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

The fruit of life is offered to those who walk with Jesus.  “He will give the power to become children of God.”  Come then and walk in the power and life that Jesus gives.  This world’s ways lead to death.  Only in Christ is there true life, and He gives it abundantly.  Hear what the Lord says to all the churches.  Listen and believe, and have your place in the paradise of God prepared from the beginning.

Lord, it is so simple.  Why do I make it so difficult?  You invite me to come to You and walk with You always.  The world seems so alluring, but it always ends in disappointment.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true life and grant me the stamina to walk in Your way always.  You have spoken to us and called us to follow You now and forever so that where we will be is with You and the Father, the One who is, was and shall be.

Lord Jesus, guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may walk humbly and wholly with You.  In the words You have already given, guide me to live according to the truth You have spoken.  By the example You gave while walking upon the earth, help me to follow Your lead.  In all things, according to Your grace and mercy, keep me wholeheartedly in Your love and purpose.  Amen. 

“Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6).

It is not clear exactly who the Nicolaitans are.  The ones referred to here practiced something very common in our day.  The used the freedom Christ gives through grace to create a new sinful bondage by calling evil good.  Nothing new, just licentiousness.  And so, the church practices what has been called antinomianism, that is, lawlessness.  They call evil good and good evil.

“You can do as you please; it’s all about prospering and receiving the good things you desire.”

 This nonsense sells in many church ministries.  But it is not about your desires.  You were created by the Lord for His purpose, and He calls you to follow Him all the days of your life.  Seek first the kingdom of God and then what is needed shall be added.  Do not listen to the ones who peddle garbage and tell you that you can do as you please.

Lord Jesus, without Your grace and mercy I could never stand on the straight and narrow path You have set before me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and hold me fast to the unchanging truth that You have revealed.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Grant that I hold fast to You Lord and walk in the way You have established.  Amen.