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To a church that started at a prayer meeting by the river Paul says he’s praying for them. His prayers flow. He lays out his prayers for this church that he loves deeply. What does he say? What does Paul pray? Paul prays for the church he loves. He prays God’s grace and peace to them. He gives joyful thanks to God for them. And he asks God that their love abound more and more.

There is a church that thinks they have no need. They say, “I am rich. I have prospered. I need nothing.” Jesus says that they do not realize how bad off they are. They have no idea that they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. This church seems like they are beyond hope. And yet, as hopeless as the church sounds here, Jesus calls them to Himself. He calls them to see how much they need Him.

Who is this One? Jesus is He who loves this church. Jesus protects this church. Jesus speaks to this church. He speaks words of hope. He speaks words of promise. He speaks words of courage. Here Jesus urges a faithful church with little strength to hold fast to all they have in Him.

For a church that has a name for being alive, but is dead, Jesus commands them strengthen what remains and is about to die. Most of those within the church of Sardis have no idea of their grave condition. And so, Jesus graciously urges them to become watchful. He commands them to remember what they received and heard. He commands them to obey. He commands them to repent. Jesus also warns them that if they don’t repent, then He will come against them suddenly.

By God’s grace, we stand with Christ. We know Him. We know who He is. We serve Him, doing excellent works for Him. We listen to Him. We do not tolerate evil. We repent of sin. We hold fast to what we have in Him. We hold fast to His works. We hold fast to His worth. We hold fast to His words. We obey Him. We believe His promises. Seeing His greatness, we worship Him. We stand in awe of Him who stands with us.

The church in Smyrna was getting crushed. And though they are about to suffer for a brief time, the church in Smyrna will not be fearful but faithful. By God’s grace, they will remain faithful to the end. And church, though we might suffer for a brief time, we will not be fearful but faithful. By God’s grace, we will remain faithful to the end.

Jesus tells the church who He is. Jesus knows all about them. He praises much about them. Yet, He has this against them: they have abandoned the love they had at first. Therefore, He calls them to remember from where they have fallen. He calls them to repent. He calls them to do the works they did at first. And unless they repent, Jesus will come to them and remove their lampstand from its place. Were they listening? Are we?

At a time when he faced his own fears, his own isolation, John receives a revelation of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, John sees Jesus more clearly than ever before. In the passage here, John recounts the thundering majesty and comforting presence of Jesus. John sees and hears Jesus Christ, the Lord God, the living one. And when he sees Jesus, John falls at his feet as though dead. But Jesus lays his right hand on John, and says, “Fear not.”

Keep looking to the LORD God who looks upon you. He knows those who fear Him, who put their hope in His steadfast love. Those who know the LORD wait upon Him. They know that He is their help. He is their shield. Their heart is glad in Him, because they trust in His holy name. They cry out to Him, asking that His steadfast love be upon them, even as they hope in Him.