“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.

“Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5).

What were the first things?  Do not speculate but try to remember.  What were the first things you did when you accepted seriously the Lord’s call on your life?  Was it not to earnestly seek to please Him and do what is good and right?  We can become lazy and do what is right in our own eyes and not do the good things the Lord requires.  Remember that the third part of the great commission is learning to obey all that the Lord commands.

Lord, You have come that we may have life.  This offer is often rejected because we would rather live the way we want to live.  Guide me, Lord, to understand that to have a new life requires living the new life.  Lead me, Lord, in living the way You modeled in Your walk upon this earth so that I may continue the journey of becoming like You.  Let no obstacle get in the way.

Lord Jesus, You know the games we play.  You know how our minds wander.  You know how feeble our best efforts are.  Guide me, Lord, in the upward call You have given me so that I may earnestly desire what is right and good.  Help me now and in all times of need to look to You and follow Your example.  Let me not lose what You have given me but grow in grace and truth all the days of my life.  Amen.

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).

It is very human to just go with the flow and do what you do because that is what you do habitually.  Who is to be our first love?  “Love the Lord and your neighbor with all you have and are.”  Is this not what Jesus told us?  Is this not the greatest commandment and a summation of all the others?  Yes, we are to love the Lord and be intentional in doing things for love of Him and others.

Lord, I do become spiritless at times and do not live as You would have me live.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may walk humbly with You and live according to Your commands.  Do not let me wander off the way, nor give in to the pressure to be conformed to any other way.  Instead, build me up in faith so that I may humbly walk with You faithfully now and forever.  Teach me again how to love.

Lord Jesus, You so loved us so much that You gave up Your life to purchase the grace we need to walk humbly with You all the days of our life.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk with You and learn how to obey all that You have commanded.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to love others and to learn how to love You as You love me.  Let love flow through all that I am.  Amen.

“[A]nd you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:3).

Do not grow weary of walking in the way of the Lord as some do.  The world is pressing in and urging us to conform to an ideal that is impossible, calling hate good and telling us we should not question the very things that are being done, but the Lord calls us out of the insanity to follow what has been and always will be good for us.  The Word of the Lord is forever.  Come then and walk with the Lord all the days of your life.

Father, You know how I am tempted to cast off all constraints and just walk in the way of the world.  Lead me, Lord, to walk humbly with You and continue along the path You have set before me through Christ, my Savior.  Holy Spirit, grant me courage and the ability to not grow weary, but persevere and stay on the path of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You continued all the way to the cross knowing each step of the way what was coming.  Help me, I pray, to continue the journey You have set before me even if I do not know exactly where it will end in this age.  Grant me the fortitude to continue along the path before me and not give up, nor give in to the constant pressure of those around me to conform to their immoral ideas.  Amen.

“I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false” (Revelation 2:2)

How many in our day tolerate anyone saying anything because they have the right credentials?  Too few seem to test to see whether the claims made are true according to the Word of the Lord.  Be discerning and do not follow evil men.  Love them, but do not tolerate them being your leaders as far as you are concerned.  Seek to be consistent with all the Lord has given you, knowing that the Head of His church is Jesus Christ.

Lord, it can seem so confusing at times.  People have the right papers, but not the right position.  Guide me to be discerning so that I see things as they are.  Help me hear one who speaks the truth regardless of whether they have credentials.  Help me to test the one who makes claims, but then submit when I find out the claims are from You and true.  Lead me to learn how both to lead and to follow.

Lord Jesus, You are the Master.  Guide me in the way of life that is right and fitting, seeking to do all that You command.  Let me not chase after anyone who comes along but hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to live.  Help me to be faithful to You and to honor those whom You send.  Through all things, grant me the assurance that Your promises are true so that I may hold fast to the hope You give me.  Amen.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:” (Revelation 2:1)

The One who spoke all things into existence speaks.  Do we listen?  The world goes on and people do what they feel like doing.  All is not well in the world.  This letter is written so that those who have ears may hear and respond.  Listen to the One who has called you by name.  Be guided by the word of truth He has spoken for your salvation.  Come into His presence and walk humbly with Him.

Lord, I have heard Your word, but too often it goes in one ear and out the other.  Help me to learn how to truly listen and hear when You speak.  All authority and power are in Your hands.  You alone can speak out of nothing and create something.  Guide me, Lord, to listen and respond.  Lead me to walk faithfully with You and to be led by Your word of truth, hope, and comfort.

Lord Jesus, the One who speaks, help me hear what You say.  Whether it is through Your word, in the soft, still voice of Your Spirit, or through the mouth of another, guide me to learn how to discern.  You said the sheep know Your voice.  Help me to recognize Your voice in the noise of the world so that I may learn and grow in the way of life that You have established through faith.  Amen.

“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).

The Lord uses symbols to help us understand things that we otherwise would not be able to understand.  Come to the Lord humbly and He will show you what you need to know.  He cares for all that He has created.  A sparrow cannot fall from the sky without His knowing about it.  You, too, who are of much more worth, are known by the Lord and He cares so much for you that He gave up His life to redeem you.

Lord, I know that in ancient times the number seven represented completeness.  Help me to understand that You will complete all things.  The angels who watch over us and the churches which You are perfecting are in Your hands.  Lead me, O Lord, to look to You and see that all things truly are in Your hands.  Help me to grow in this faith You have given me and become complete in You.

Lord Jesus, all of Scripture gives evidence of Your hand and the work You are completing for eternity.  Guide me, Lord, now and always to humbly walk the path of salvation, doing those things You have given me to do.  Help me to be faithful in the fellowship in which You have planted me.  Grant that I would accept the help You give me.  In all things, complete me in You.  Amen.