Thank you for joining us as we have worked our way through the book of Revelation. As Pastor David continues to help us unpack the rest of the book, we are going to turn our attention in our daily devotions to the different themes found in John’s writing. For the next four weeks, we’ll dive into themes in the book of Revelation and explore how they align with the rest of Scripture.
This week we will explore the ideas of perseverance and being a faithful witness. What does it look like to stand firm in what we believe, resisting corruption and remaining loyal to God in the midst of difficult things?
Day 2: Faithful Resistance
Read Revelation 2:10
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.
Read Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego had a lot in common with the church in Smyrna from the book of Revelation. They all faced incredible persecution for what they believed, and yet they stood firm in those beliefs… no matter the consequences. Even if God chose not to provide rescue in the ways they might desire or expect, they resolved to resist the cultural pull away from God. They are great examples of what faithful resistance looks like. We too are called to be faithful no matter what. So what does that mean for us? What does it look like to have an “even if” kind of faith like the examples we read about in Scripture?
As a parent, there have been countless times when I have reminded my kids how important it is to remember who you belong to – to not just go along with what everyone else is doing, to live boldly in light of who God is and the way He calls us to live. Adults see the importance of not allowing peer pressure to influence behavior…when it comes to our kids. The right path often feels pretty clear in that scenario. But when the rubber hits the road in our adult lives, sometimes we aren’t as certain. And if we aren’t careful, we can subtly slide sideways away from a holy way of living. Laughing at a joke at someone else’s expense or using language we might not ordinarily use so that we don’t stand out amongst our peers might not seem like a big deal on the surface. But what if those seemingly small things reveal big things about the posture of our hearts and where – or who they are anchored in?
Spend some time today asking God for the strength to faithfully resist the world around you, so that you might be compelled to live an “even if” kind of faith.
