Reading
Revelation 2:8-11 (NRSV)
Warning to the church in Smyrna
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:
"I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.
Reflection
Warning to the church in Smyrna
"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:
"I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.
Reflection
The words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. What a wonderful thought. The One who was first and last. One who knows our affliction and poverty. This passage is direct and to the point for many of us. Even though many are rich by this world's standards, we create in ourselves a view of poverty and affliction. We create a view relative to our worldly wealth rather than a view relative to what we really need to live. God richly supplies what we need to live. We are truly blessed and even rich. No matter the degree of our worldly wealth, God makes us rich. Rich in blessing.
But many think that they deserve worldly wealth and richness from God. Many think that God blesses them because of what they have done or because of some action they have taken.
Truly God does make us rich. What we have done, in our sin and selfishness, deserves death.
However, God chooses to bless us with life through the One who was first and last, the One who was dead but now lives. It's not about what I or you or we have done that brings blessing, it's what God has done that brings forth the blessing of life. That's being rich! That's being blessed.
That richness is completely different from what our world claims as being rich. The richness of God and what God has done for you and me and us, makes all the difference. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, you have richly blessed me. May I richly bless another with and through your gracefulness. --- Amen
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