Daily Devotions
Our Response to Terror
Title: Our Response to Terror
Reading for December 28: Revelation 12-14
Weekly reading for December 23-29: Revelation 1-11
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."
Revelation 2:10-11
What if Jesus was writing this to you?
What if you were given the assignment of reading this to your congregation? You stand before a church that is already going through tribulation, poverty, and slander. Jesus is telling the church that some of you will be thrown into prison and that further tribulation is on the way. In fact, there is the distinct possibility of death. Reports have already come in of a Christian who was martyred not far from you (Rev 2:13).
You read the first couple of lines predicting these trials and you pause to look up for a moment. You see a young mother, a baby in her lap and a toddler at her side, and you see a single tear fall down her cheek. You see an early teen on the front row staring up at you with wide eyes full of uncertainty. You see an older man, not yet a Christian, with his believing wife by his side slump down and look at the floor.
You pause for a minute because you know what the next line is. You know how important this simple exhortation from Jesus is. How do you read it? Do you read it softly? Do you try to add confidence to your tone and raise the volume a notch? How do you read the next line from Jesus?
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
My brothers and sisters, this letter most certainly WAS written to us! No, it's not predicting specific events as it was at Smyrna, but it was written for us. We must be careful how we respond to terror, because many are watching us. Some are strong and will do the right thing regardless of how we react. Others, however, are very much influenced by how we respond. For their sake (as well as our own) we need to do some soul searching and determine in our hearts what we really believe.
Father, grant us courage in the face of terror. Give us confidence in the promises of our Lord.
