Remaining Faithful to the End
Your Nightly Scripture
Evening Scripture
Revelation, Chapter 3
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Evening Reflection
It’s an honor and a burden to recognize that Christ opens doors for us that no man can shut. Such a gift requires an intentional, black-and-white decision. We are left with little room but to obey or disobey, to step into our calling or to shy away from it in the name of comfort or social appearance. But obedience doesn’t require our strength. In fact, Revelation 3:8 reveals that God rejoices over us even in our weak obedience, in giving Him our hearts and allowing Him to do the spiritual heavy lifting. After all, His ability to be the good, sovereign, and almighty God that He is has never rested on our capacity to stay spiritually strengthened at all times.
I recognize this reality most when it’s time to go to bed, when my brain knows it needs to unwind and disconnect from the day, but my soul has a list of failures that, in my opinion, need more than honest confession. They need me to feel miserable, guilty, and ashamed. They need me to carry my inadequacies on my sleeve to keep pride at bay. I guess I fall victim to this performance-based hamster wheel because I’ve always been fearful of being the lukewarm Christian we see in this evening’s passage, in verses 15-16. I don’t want my life to be an intolerable, nose-scrunching distaste in God’s mouth.
It’s easy to believe that the Christian who is on fire for the Lord is the one making the fewest mistakes, but it’s actually the one who refuses to be indifferent (v 19), who gives faith feet, even if they are weak, wobbly, afraid, and tired from the fight. Keep walking, friend. Remain faithful to the end. Your good, good God sustains you.
Evening Prayer
Jesus,
Thank you that you are not only compassionate in my weakness, but you use my shortcomings to declare your Kingdom and bring heaven to earth. Your faithfulness to my redemption remains until the end. As a sinner, I recognize that I don’t deserve to take part in your glorious plan in such a way, yet I won’t deny your grace. I won’t shy away from the freedom you offer my forgiven heart. Rather, I will unwrap this gift with gratitude and obey your calling no matter how I feel or what I believe I can or can’t offer.
Lord, put my fears to rest as I trust that your salvation isn’t something I can earn. Help me remember that it’s a gift free to all who respond in faith, even when their faith isn’t steady and sure.
Thank you for your work on the cross and your victory over the tomb. May we rest in your kind, sustaining, powerful resurrection today.
In your holy name, Lord God,
Amen.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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