Scripture
15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
And
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 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.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Reflection
Jesus caps off this letter to Smyrna by quoting the words he spoke to the people in Galilee pertaining to the Jews’ response to the messages of John the Baptist and himself. “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” It’s a plea for us to have faith right now really. In the same way that Jesus desired for His own people to respond in faith to him and John the Baptist, he is calling us to have faith now. It’s faith in the unseen or faith in something not physically tangible that actually counts as real faith. If you’ve already seen it, then it’s not real faith at all; faith is the evidence of things unseen. Only later on after seeing God deliver on His promise is when we can gladly boast on our faith as wisdom as Jesus says in Matt 11:19 “…But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What does this passage tell you about humanity?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How can you apply this message in an area of your life that needs transformation?
- Is there anyone you think should hear or will benefit from this message? Go and tell them.
Prayer
Ask God to deliver you from your troubles to protect you from the evil one and deliver you from temptation.
