The letter to the Churches ⛪️ - part 2
Posted on March 30th, 2026 by Redeemed8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. - (Revelation 2:8-9)
It is comforting to know that Jesus sees us and is with us when we go through trials. He told the Smyrna church that he knows their works, troubles and struggles and that they are actually rich - God's standard of measuring wealth is different from the world's.
The church in Smyrna needed to know that Jesus sees them in their pains and struggles just like the present day church reminding them that He is the beginning of all things as well as the ending. All things have their existence through him and are through him.
Many people actually doubt if God sees them when facing trials of life and question if God is truly seeing them then why allow the sufferings?
Though God may permit it but its not from Him. Jesus made us to understand why these are;
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried... (Revelation 2:10)
Trials comes, as recorded in Scriptures not from the Lord but from the devil, to try and prove or disprove our love and faith in God.
Whatever we claim to believe when stress tested will be proven. We cannot claim to love God when that love hasn't been tested. The test will reveal our hearts and the place of God in it.
The fire is a refiner that proves anything and everything. Anything that goes through the fire and survives usually takes on a form that cannot be destroyed. Some things takes on a different shape, others shines so brightly because the destructible or transient part has been burnt off, leaving only the indestructible matters.
Trials therefore is a refiner, whether we will still stand after all is said and done.
Jesus said to hold unto faith when trials comes our way, for it is for a time and after that a reward awaits them that overcome - a crown of life.
It seems from Jesus's letter that the trials the Church at Smyrna were experiencing was from within them as well as from without but Jesus told them to be faithful until the end and the second death will have no hold over them.
God bless.
Peace!
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