By Rev. Dr. Cureton L. Johnson
“These are the words of Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. … Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” Rev. 2:8b, 10c (NIV)
Jesus knew that fear is a human condition, but the Master encouraged the saints of God to choose faithfulness over fear. As he drew near to the cross during the last days of his life, Jesus faced death and the temptation to fear. In the end, Jesus chose faithfulness over fear in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
In the book of Revelation, Jesus did not express a single complaint against the church at Smyrna. His post-resurrection voice encouraged them “to be faithful unto death” and “not be afraid” of persecution and evil threatening them. Today, our nation is divided as culture wars threaten us with book banning, with revisionist Black history, and even the denial of the evils of slavery. White nationalism and racial violence have increased, but we Christians today, like those in Smyrna, must remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ even in times of great danger. Don’t worry about the next election, just be faithful and vote.
Faithfulness is steadily putting your trust and hope in Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Smyrna Christians that their time of tribulation would be limited (Rev. 10b). That’s good news brothers and sisters, for it lets us know that Satan is a defeated foe! Indeed, Christ’s words assure us that God will bring us victory out of the worst of times! (Hebrews 10:23)
Therefore, be faithful, don’t let the Devil distract you from God’s calling upon your life. Don’t let fear keep you from praising the Lord and sharing your faith in Jesus Christ. If you are faithful to Christ, you will receive the crown of an overcomer—the crown of life! (Rev. 2:10)
Dr. Cureton L. Johnson is the Pastor Emeritus at the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C. where he served as senior pastor for 28 years.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as we stand in the shadow of the cross, we call upon Your name, seeking Your guidance and strength. We are reminded by Your words in Revelation 2:8b, 10c that You call us to be faithful, even to the point of death, and that in doing so, You will give us the crown of life. We are inspired by Your faithfulness in the Garden of Gethsemane, where You chose to trust in the will of the Father rather than succumb to fear.
In this time of division and uncertainty, we are encouraged to remain faithful to Your teachings, just as You encouraged the church at Smyrna. We are not to be afraid of the challenges that may come, whether they are cultural wars, racial violence, or the denial of historical injustices. We are to stand firm in our faith, knowing that our time of tribulation will be limited and that You, Lord, are our victor over the forces of evil.
We trust in Your promise that faithfulness brings victory, as stated in Hebrews 10:23. We choose to put our trust and hope in You, Lord, even as You promised the Smyrna Christians. We will not let fear distract us from Your calling on our lives or prevent us from praising You and sharing our faith in You. We are faithful to You, Jesus, and in that faithfulness, we believe that we will receive the crown of an overcomer—the crown of life.
Lord, we pray for Your strength to stand firm in our faith. We ask that You would silence the lies of the enemy and guide us to step over his traps. We trust in Your promise to protect our way and bring us safely through the trials we face. We choose to set our eyes on You and not on our circumstances, choosing joy over despair, peace over worry, and faith over fear.
We pray for Your will to be done and not our own, and we choose to find rest and joy in You today. We thank You for Your goodness and favor over our days, for Your great hope, and for the purpose You have for our future. We lay it all down before You, trusting in Your promise to be with us and to fight for us, even behind the scenes where we cannot see.
Lord, help us to be strong and courageous, not to fear or be discouraged, for You are with us wherever we go. We pray for Your help to release the burdens we carry and to fill us with fresh faith in Your promises. We ask that You would open doors and close those that are not needed, and help us to stop wrestling with our circumstances. We trust in Your mighty hand to guide us through the darkest nights, for You are near to us and with us always.
In Your name, we pray. Amen.
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