“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).

We live four score years, plus or minus.  The scoffers say it has been too long.  What is four score years in the face of eternity?  Jesus is returning and it will come quickly.  The world is bent on taking away your faith.  It is easier to see now than it was even twenty years ago.  Either all of this is true, or else it is false.  If you believe, then what is adversity but an opportunity to learn more and become more like Jesus who lived a life on this earth filled with adversity.

Lord God, Maker of all things, You know that I like comfort.  I enjoy my daily routine and desire assurances in this life that I may continue on, but the world is pressing in.  Help me to live for You first and foremost no matter what comes.  Whether it is at the end of my few short years in this life, or Your return where everyone sees, help me to live preparing for the eternity You have promised me.

Savior of the world, You have sent Your Spirit to lead the way in the righteousness You give through grace.  Guide me this day to hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to understand and know that You have, are, and will save me through every time of trial.  I will fall, but You will pick me up.  Guide me today to do those things You place before me and help me to be faithful.  Amen.

“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

The Lord has placed conditions upon us. Does that sound so wrong?  You are used to them because you live with them in every other place in your life, why not with the Lord?  Take care of your faith and your faith will take care of you.  So many crumble because they are lazy, do nothing, and then when adversity comes, expect the Lord to bail them out.  It does not work that way.  It cannot.

Lord, help me to see this clearly.  If I do the work, I will be able to do what I need to do when the time of testing comes.  If I expect You to do it all, I will be worthless in adversity.  Help me to do the exercise so that in the day of trial I may persevere.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and a future.  Lead me now and always in the way of learning how to be faithful.

Lord Jesus, help me to make the connections.  There seem to be many in our age who expect much while they themselves do nothing.  My part must be done in order for the work to be done.  Help me to see this plainly and then help me to follow the path that You set before me.  Guide me dear Lord in the way You know I need to go and establish in me the discipline I need to get there.  Amen.

“Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you” (Revelation 3:9).

There are those opposed to God who gather together and claim that they are the ones who are privileged.  The Lord will deal with them in His time.  Many assemblies have been thus led astray.  But what about you?  Will you take seriously the call to hold fast to the true faith and remain in the arms of Jesus, or will you give into worldly pressure and conform to those who believe they have control?  The Lord will affirm the faithful and in the end it is the faithful who will be with Him.

Lord, living this life is often a muddled mess.  Lead me, O Lord in the way of life that You not only established, but intend that we live.  Let me not be caught up with those who assemble and remain opposed to You.  Let me be faithful to You and seek others who are following You.  May I never be found to be a member of those who oppose You, but instead remain faithful to the end.

Lord Jesus, You alone know who is whom.  You have called me to follow You.  No matter where I find myself, help me to remain faithful to Your righteousness in which You have called me through grace.  Help me to remain faithful to You throughout all the days of my life no matter what comes.  Lord, the only prize I seek is to be with You always and to walk in Your ways.  Amen.  

“I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8).

The little power, dare I say the only power we have, is the power to become children of God as it says in John, chapter one.  We are under the authority of Christ.  Do not take liberty with these things, but humbly submit to the One who has opened the door in order that You may enter.  Be guided by His goodness and know that the Lord of all is leading You in the power He gives you so that you may steward your life to become like Him.

Lord, all power does belong to You.  You grant us, from Your power, that which is needed to walk the journey of becoming.  There are many who hunger for power, but that is an illusive and deadly goal.  Your faithful people demonstrate that they live by faith.  They do not seek for worldly power, but humbly walk with You.  The road is narrow and You must lead so that we do not veer from the path.

Lord, lead me the remaining days of this life so that each day I may progress in the way You would have me go. Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope.  Your promises are forever.  Let me not walk my own way or by my own power, but in Your power which You grant so that I may increasingly become like You.  Help as You know I need it to walk with You always.  Amen.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:” (Revelation 3:7)

he keys of the kingdom belong to the Lord.  He who promised to David that the scepter would not pass away has the keys, has opened the door for as many as believe and gives them the power to become children of God in the example of Christ.  We are to be conformed to Christ’s image.  The Lord of all has fulfilled His promise to David and will fulfill His promise to us.

Know who it is that is making this promise.  The Eternal One is speaking these words and each of us does well to pay attention.  Do not be deceived, fakers and those who inwardly mock the Lord will not walk through the door.  Be led by the Lord of all and walk humbly with Your God and Savior.  Know that in Him is life and liberty.  Apart from Him is death.  He will do as He has promised.

Lord Jesus, You have come to rescue me from the bondage of death upon my soul.  Help me hear Your word and apply it to my life.  Grant that I would live in Your power of becoming so that each day I may become a little more like You.  Guide me in Your goodness to see through the nonsense of this world and live the life You have granted me through grace.  Lead me Lord to wherever the open door You have opened takes me.  Amen.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:6).

The Lord must first heal you so that you may hear as He speaks.  Do you hear the Lord when He speaks?  He speaks through His word, in preaching and teaching, and through others.  He can use a donkey to speak His word, so He will even use pagans and unbelievers.  Do you hear the truth when it is spoken?  Listen as the Lord speaks to the churches.  He speaks to us all good instructions.

Lord, I am reading Your word and even though there are times when I do not understand, yet I know it is You who is speaking.  Lead me so that I listen and apply what You are saying to how I live.  Especially in the wilderness times, guide me to open my ears, even through the noise of this world, to hear Your still, gentle, and life-giving voice.  Attune my heart to know when Your Spirit speaks.

Lord Christ, Savior of all who will come to the Father, guide me in my hearing and in my actions.  No matter the source, when You speak, help me to hear and to understand.  You have set me upon the path of righteousness for Your sake.  Keep me upon the path of true faith to learn how to overcome that as I am with You now, I may remain forever.  Lead me Savior in the way of truth.  Amen.

“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5).

What does it mean to overcome?  We are to die to sin, death, and the devil.  The power belongs to God and we can do nothing on our own.  But, at just the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.  By grace we have been given the power to become like Christ. In the little power He gives us, we have the power to overcome.  What will you do with what you have been given?  He has given you His righteousness to walk abiding in Him.

The garment of Christ is His righteousness which He gives you vicariously.  Do you wear what He has given you?  Are you clothed in His righteousness?  Do you walk this life seeking Him and what He has given you?  If you confess Christ before others, He will confess you before the Father.  There is no more serious bargain into which you have been invited.  What will you do with this bargain?

Lord Jesus, take from me any idea that I can do this on my own.  I cannot.  Help me to understand that I am wearing Your righteousness in order to be conformed to You.  Guide me in all goodness to overcome the obstacles that come day by day so that I may persevere.  Let my life be a confession of You and the grace which You give so that in this faith You have given me I may live in You now and forever.  Amen.

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4).

Put on Christ.  Put on His robe of righteousness.  This is grace.  There are those who soil the grace of Christ by continuing to live as if grace is all that is needed.  On the one hand, it is.  On the other, grace is not a salve to be applied, but runs deep to kill the old Adam and raise up the new person who will become like Christ.  Live then into the new life He gives and repent of soiling the robe of righteousness that you have been given.

Lord, I do become arrogant about the faith You have given me.  I live as though my behavior does not matter.  My behavior reflects who I truly am.  Lead me away from this world of rebellion to have a heart that longs after You.  Help me to not need being cleaned up so much as direction on how You would have me proceed.  In Your goodness and by Your mercy, guide me into the life You have promised.

Lord Jesus, I often do not know where to begin.  You have cleaned me up with Your grace.  Now help me to walk the path of righteousness for Your sake.  Lead me today so that I live the life You have given me.  Keep me from those temptations where I sill give You up for something worthless.  Help me now and always to keep my eyes upon You, following You wherever You lead.  Amen.

“So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (Revelation 3:3).

Listen carefully to Jesus.  He says, “Repent.”  That means turn from whatever it is that has distracted you and go back to what you first received from Him.  Jesus expects you to repent.  We do fight against the old Adam.  We are asleep.  Often, we do not know what we are doing.  Pride tells us all is well.  The truth tells us to repent and come to Him.  The day will come when the time of choosing how to live will be over.

Lord, I am guilty of not taking my faith as serious as I ought.  Help me to live into the life to which You have called me through Your grace.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I live according to all that You have promised.  In Your goodness, remind me daily of what I have received.  I need Your grace to continue the process of repenting.  Help me to look forward to the day when You return.

Lord Jesus, You are my help and You keep me on the path toward righteousness.  Lead me today dear Lord and search my heart to find those places where I need to repent.  Guide me so that I may now and always walk the path Your promise has set me upon.  Help me to not be anxious, but also to look toward the day when I will see You face to face.  My life is in Your hands.  Guide me by Your Holy Spirit now and always.  Amen.

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God” (Revelation 3:2).

Do not settle.  Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought.  Be led by the Holy Spirit and not by the spirit of this age.  The Lord has a reason for everything.  It is not that you have an assignment to complete, as some may think.  It is that the Lord is perfecting us and you and I need to be on His time-table.  Do not let the life He has poured into you die.  Do not stop walking the path He has set before you.

Lord, I do not know, but it seems as though many just go through the motions and stop actually progressing.  I know I sometimes do this.  This life is filled with multiple lessons.  Our culture  has become lazy.  Make enough, retire, and have fun.  But living is living in You, the Giver of life.  Help me to realize this so that I continue on the path You have placed before me.  Guide me in Your goodness, grace, and mercy to do these things.

Lord Jesus, You make possible my ability to walk the path You have set before me.  Guide me by Your grace to, step by step, walk the journey You know I must walk, doing what You give me to do even if that means being still and waiting upon You.  Do not let the life You have poured into me die.  I know You are at work in me.  Let me work through my salvation with fear and trembling knowing that You will not stop until I am complete.  Amen.