As we begin week two of our 7 churches study we look to the church in Smyrna. The church in Smyrna for several reasons. First, this is the shortest letter to the seven churches. Secondly, this letter holds no correction, but only encouragement. The only letter that does this is the letter to the church in Philadelphia. The letter to the church in Smyrna, although short, carries an important encouragement for this church and the church today. The message is to remain steadfast in the face of suffering. Smyrna was suffering like all of the 7 churches suffer in some way, but because of their commitment to faithfulness, they experience greater suffering. This is a reminder that the call to follow Jesus is not easy, it comes with great suffering. The greater our faithfulness can correlate to the greater our earthly suffering, but Jesus reminds this church that He is the first and the last. He is with them in their suffering, and He has a home of victory for them if they remain faithful in this life.

Look to this letter this week and seek how you have and might continue to suffer for Christ, and how to seek His face in the midst of it.

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