“See, I have placed before you an open door no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Revelation 3:8
Think of a time when you have felt vulnerable, when the wandering-sheep metaphor of the Bible (see Jeremiah 50:6) resonated with you. You drifted. You faced danger or uncertainty, illness or loss. In those times, we must draw close to the Good Shepherd and trust Him to lead us as He has promised.
The worship of mythical gods in Rome aroused spiritual warfare there. Believers in both Philadelphia and Smyrna were persecuted for refusing to bow to gods like Apollo or Diana and for standing firm on the Word of the Lord. Even some Jews who despised Christians participated in the ridicule and rejection. Yet those two churches who had no strength societally were shining stars in Christ’s kingdom. Their unwavering commitment made them targets, but the Lord was their shield and protector.
Our vulnerability should push us into the arms of the Shepherd, too. We can depend on His power, love, and provisions. We hold tight to the same promise Paul clung to: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The worship of mythical gods in Rome aroused spiritual warfare there. Believers in both Philadelphia and Smyrna were persecuted for refusing to bow to gods like Apollo or Diana and for standing firm on the Word of the Lord. Even some Jews who despised Christians participated in the ridicule and rejection. Yet those two churches who had no strength societally were shining stars in Christ’s kingdom. Their unwavering commitment made them targets, but the Lord was their shield and protector.
Our vulnerability should push us into the arms of the Shepherd, too. We can depend on His power, love, and provisions. We hold tight to the same promise Paul clung to: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Scripture Focus
Revelation 3:7-13
Insight
“‘Is not my word like a fire,’ declares the LORD,‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’”(Jeremiah 23:29)
Bible In A Year
- Isaiah 11-13
- Psalm 77
- John 18