February 23, 2008
Saturday
Revelation 2:8-11
Smyrna is now known as Izmir. It is the third largest city in Turkey, located on the shore of the Aegean Sea, and it’s port is second only to Istanbul. We saw a hustling place. The water views were beautiful. Our only real stop was at the Church of Polycarp of which I’ll speak to later.
In the words of God for this community we hear a call to faith. Though they believe in God there will be struggle, there will be testing, there will be persecution. Yet God, through John, calls them to be faithful. Why? Because there is a greater glory, a greater reason for living, than that which we see around us. The crown of life is like a wreath awarded to the winner of a race and we remember the words from Hebrews 12 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Whatever suffering or testing we are facing today is but for a short time. God says, “hold on”, “keep the faith” and we will receive eternal life as the final victory. AMEN!!!
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