It Starts Small

Today’s scripture, instead of Jesus rebuking the church, he continues with a warning to the church as Smyrna. Some of the believers were going to encounter imprisonment and death. The devil himself was responsible for this hateful evil treatment, but Jesus said do not fear!

Jesus was always encouraging His followers and us to not fear:

²⁸ Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:28-31

He continued His counsel by asserting that our heavenly Father’s eye is on the sparrows and He values us more than many sparrows.

The Devil puts us to the test as well as God.

When you face temptation, do you answer to sin?

We can translate the word “tested” as try to trap. The Devil tries to trap us in sin.

¹³ No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God^[a] has promised to those who love him.

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.

James 1:12-13

The Devil will attempt to lure us into his lair. Once there, he will trap us in his system. There, our true character will come out.

The “ten days” may refer to ten persecutions that began with Nero and ended with Diocletian at the end of the third century. Christians are not promised to be kept from persecution, but Jesus promises we are kept in—or through—persecution.

The New Testament uses “faithful” of God and of believers who are disposed to believe God.

Jesus encourages and asks us to be His faithful followers even to the point of death. Jesus promises the crown of life to those who remain loyal. The “crown” refers to the wreath that was given to the winner of an athletic contest. At the end of life’s race an imperishable wreath awaits all who faithfully served Christ even unto death.