Today's Daily Bread

VICTORIOUS OVER SUFFERING AND DEATH IN JESUS

Date : Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Passage : Revelation 2:1~11
Keyverse : 10  
1
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
5
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
8
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
9
I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Jesus gave seven messages to seven churches. The seven stars (2) refer to angels of the churches. The seven golden lamp stands are the churches. Jesus rules over and is present in each church.

Jesus commended the Ephesian Christians for their deeds and faithfulness to the gospel. They also discerned truth from false teaching and did not tolerate the wicked. But their love for Jesus and others had grown cold. They were encouraged to repent and do the things they had done before.

The Church in Smyrna was the only one of the seven not to be rebuked by Jesus. They were afflicted, poor, and suffered tremendous persecution. But Jesus declared that they were rich because of their faith and their final inheritance of eternal life. Threats and suffering brought fear. But if they stood firm in Christ, even unto death, Jesus would give them the victor’s crown.

Living as Jesus’ people in the world can make our love grow cold. Suffering and affliction can make us afraid. But Jesus promises final victory for his faithful people. May the Holy Spirit daily remind us of this glorious promise, so that we may each remain faithful in Jesus Christ. Prayer: Father, renew my love for Jesus and help me to be faithful to the end.
One Word: Jesus promises a victor’s crown