Today Daily Devotional

“I will also write on them my new name.”

— Revelation 3:12

The church in Philadelphia was going to be rebranded, receiving a new name. They had been given an open door that no one could shut; they were recognized as true citizens of the kingdom of God. People who tried to discourage and persecute them would recognize that the love of God was directed toward all who believed in Jesus as Savior and Messiah. The resurrected Jesus was now the way to full life through faith.

The Philadelphia church would also be protected by Jesus through a time of great trial. And Jesus does not say he would take them out of the trial but would protect them through it.

As they held on to Jesus’ promises, the Philadelphia church would become like “a pillar in the temple of God,” a permanent part of God’s presence in the world. On them would be written the name of God, the name of the new Jerusalem, God’s city, and Jesus’ new name (this may refer to Revelation 19:11-16). They would be rebranded to show that they belonged to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says.” Childlike faith and perseverance in the name of the One “who is holy and true,” even through persecution, will result in citizenship in the eternal kingdom of God.

Loving God, may we trust in you for all things, at all times, in every way. Strengthen our resolve to be your family. Amen.

“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

— Revelation 3:8

I love passages in the Bible that show how Jesus welcomed children, blessed them, and urged his followers to come to him with childlike faith. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus expects us to be as trusting as children.

David wrote in Psalm 34, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles,” and “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (vv. 6, 11).

The Philadelphia church had little strength. They had little power to make their presence felt. They were a small group of people without a lot of movers and shakers. But what they had was a deep and abiding faith, like that of little children. They trusted Jesus despite the lies told by local synagogue members. And although they couldn’t do much against those adversaries, they could believe in Jesus.

To this church Jesus pointed out the open door to the kingdom of heaven. He had lovingly opened that door by his death and resurrection, and they had entered through faith. They had kept his word and had not denied his name.

A child with faith willingly makes childlike but confident assertions about Jesus. Let’s remember that we are God’s children, whom he loves, and that we can trust him with childlike faith.

Lord, teach us to be like little children who believe with awe and wonder. Help us to trust you fully and completely. Amen.

“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.”

— Revelation 3:7

The church in Philadelphia is one of two churches that do not receive a complaint from Jesus (the other is Smyrna). What a compliment from “him who is holy and true”! Imagine what it was like for the church in Philadelphia to be greeted this way. The One who is holy and true is wholly set apart from all that is worldly. Everything that Jesus says and does is holy and true, both now and forevermore. This reminds me of the inspiring hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” based on Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 4:1-11, and other passages in Scripture. Jesus also says that he “holds the key of David.” In Isaiah 22:20-22 we find some background on this phrase. The one who holds this key can open and close the door of the house of David. (This probably refers to the kingdom that God promises to establish forever in Christ, a descendant of David—see 2 Samuel 7:11-16; Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16.) And when he opens or shuts the door, it is permanently open or shut. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem “was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). God did that, opening the way into his presence through the death of Jesus for all who trust in him as Savior. Jesus has opened the way to his kingdom. Will you enter in?

Holy Spirit, open our hearts to your truth, the story of God’s love. Fill us with wonder and awe, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“Yet you have a few people . . . who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”

— Revelation 3:4

White shirts with ties and hats used to be the standard wear of male baseball fans (most of whom were playing hooky from their work at the office). White shirts and ties were also standard for many males who attended church (that really cramped my style as a young boy). But white robes will be the clothes of grace when the multitude that no one can count stands before the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

In Sardis, Jesus said, there were yet a few people who had “not soiled their clothes”—and they would be walking with him, rewarded for their faithful service. And not only will these believers be with Jesus, but their names are written in the book of life. Written in the Lamb’s book of life (see Revelation 21:27), our names will never be blotted out. The atonement sealed by Jesus through his one sacrifice for all is satisfactory before God forever.

And the victory will come when we wake up, strengthen, remember, hold fast, and repent. God our Father desires that we be with him and walk with Jesus forever. Are you awake, remembering, repentant, and ready to wear the white robe prepared for you in Christ?

Lord and Savior, when temptations come our way, give us courage and strength to resist. Keep us walking in step with you, alert and faithful for your sake. Amen.

“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live. . . . Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken. . . .”

— Ezekiel 37:14

Ezekiel’s prophecy about dry bones being restored to life is a startling picture of hope in the darkest of circumstances. When God speaks life into what is dead, resurrection happens.

Jesus had told the Sardis church, “You are dead.” But he didn’t stop there. He called them to “Wake up!” His power could strengthen what life remained in them, giving them hope.

Jesus called them to remember what they had received and heard. Memory itself is a gift from God to cherish. May the church never lose its memory of God’s great gifts.

Then “hold . . . fast” to what you were given, he said. In other words, obey and be on guard and on high alert. Watch, and watch out!

And “repent.” Confession is good and necessary for the soul. Repentance and the forgiveness that follows are so freeing to our souls. In repentance we can admit who we are before God. And God mercifully forgives because he loves us and wants us to live with him.

The Lord wants us all to wake up and be fully alive, flourishing as he created us to be, and sharing his goodness with others everywhere in this broken world.

Father, I have sinned against you. I have not loved you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I need to be made right with you, remembering what you have given and done for me through Jesus. Fill me and renew my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!”

— Revelation 3:1-2

As a youngster, I often played a game with my friends called “King of the Mountain.” All we needed was a mound of dirt. One of us would declare ourselves king of the dirt pile and defeat all who would try to dethrone us. Of course, the king needed to watch all sides for a sneak attack. The city of Sardis had a citadel on top of a mountain. The residents considered themselves safe from all enemies. But they became complacent and lazy about defense, and the city was captured. The church at Sardis had apparently followed a similar path. Prone to laziness in their spiritual life, the church was headed for destruction. Jesus knew their deeds and was not impressed. Though they had a reputation of being alive and healthy, the Lord of the church saw the truth and said, “You are dead.” Ouch! Even so, Jesus graciously urged them to remember what they had received and heard. Calling them to repent, he gave them hope.

Do you and your church need to remember what you have received and heard? Are you spiritually alert to dangers both within and outside the church? Are people’s lives being changed so that they are growing closer and closer to Jesus? If not, what does Jesus tell you to do?

Lord of the church, help us to follow you faithfully, not growing lazy in our service but always growing closer to you. In your name we pray. Amen.

“You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet . . . [and] misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”

— Revelation 2:20

Yesterday we marveled at the grace-filled good deeds of the church in Thyatira. Jesus also saw that they “were doing more than [they] did at first.” They were improving and growing in good deeds. “Nevertheless, I have this against you,” he said. Some people in the church were tolerating a “Jezebel” who called herself a prophet but taught the seductive practices of idol-worship feasts and orgies. Jesus compared her to Queen Jezebel in ancient Israel (see 1 Kings 16:29-33; 21:5-26). Jesus was patient, giving her time to “repent of her immorality, but she [was] unwilling.” So he would bring punishment, urging those who followed her to repent as well. The Jezebel of the Old Testament received a cruel and ugly death (2 Kings 9:30-37). It seems that this false prophet in Thyatira—and those who followed her—would receive a horrible death too. All this would happen because of a refusal to accept God’s grace and turn around (repent) to live by God’s way of blessing and life to the full. Jesus promised, though, that all who repented and did not follow such ways would be victorious, able to reign with Jesus and receive the morning star (see also Rev. 22:16).

May we all search our hearts and listen, repenting while we have time to turn and follow the Lord into real, full life.

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. You are good and gracious. By your Spirit, guide us to follow you. Amen.

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”

— Revelation 2:19

The Son of God, with blazing eyes and feet like burnished bronze, knows the deeds, love, and faith of the Thyatira church. They were living as God’s handiwork, doing good work that God had prepared in advance for them to do (see Ephesians 2:10). They had been saved by God’s grace to bring grace to a dying world.

The church of the living God is honored to continue to live in Jesus, in this world, by doing good works that share the love of God with others.

The deeds of the Thyatira church shone like stars in the darkness. They loved God above all, and they practiced love for one another. They cared, they encouraged, they supported, they shared. They believed what was true, and they stood strong in their faith in Christ. When misleading words were spoken, they resisted the temptation to be led astray and wander from the light of Jesus into darkness.

They were faithful and loving in their service to others in Jesus’ name, and they persevered. They did not back down. Empowered by the Spirit of God, they stood firm on their foundation of faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Persevering service is meant to be a hallmark of the church. What works of love and faith can Jesus highlight in your life and in your church?

Thank you, Lord, for preparing us to serve you and others. We would not choose that on our own, but, by your Spirit, we can persevere. To you be all glory! Amen.

“These are the words of the Son of God. . . .”

— Revelation 2:18

To the church in Thyatira, Jesus reveals himself as “the Son of God.” This is the first time we find this name for Jesus in the book of Revelation. Jesus also connects this name to the one “whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (see Revelation 1:14-15). In many cities like Thyatira in the Roman Empire, emperor worship and idol worship were impossible to miss. But if you worshiped the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, you could walk and move about with confidence amid the idol temples and altars. You could do that even if it meant you would be ostracized from the business world, rejected in your neighborhood, and perhaps beaten and put into jail or even put to death. John had been an eyewitness at the transfiguration of Jesus, and he had heard the voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35). John knew Jesus, and now Jesus presents himself as that same Son of God to the church in Thyatira. Do you know Jesus? Who is he to you? A good teacher, a miracle worker from storybooks? Or do you know him as the only Son of God who came to this world to provide salvation and to rule as King over all earthly kings and rulers? Jesus is the living and reigning Son of God whose eyes penetrate to the heart and whose feet stomp out injustice. Let us join with all true believers to worship him!

Son of God, to you belong all praise, honor, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen!

“To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

— Revelation 2:17

Jesus called the Pergamum church, some of whom were slipping into idolatry and immorality, to repent. Otherwise, judgment would come. But to all who would repent, to those who were eager to commit to Jesus, there would be victory. He would give them “some of the hidden manna,” he said. This refers back to God’s Old Testament people receiving a daily supply of manna for their food (Exodus 16). God sustained them in the desert with this “bread from heaven” as a sign of his love. Jesus built on that connection by announcing that he is the true bread from heaven who gives life to the world. All who come to Jesus in faith will receive bread that feeds the soul. Jesus, the bread of life, opens the door to eternal life (John 6:32-51). Jesus also said that each repentant believer would receive “a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” We aren’t sure what this means, but it seems related to having a new relationship with God in Christ and a new character that is treasured deep within one’s heart. (See also some passages about names in Isaiah 43:1; 62:2-4, 12; Revelation 3:12; 19:11-16.) Though some details here are mysterious, the message is clear: Jesus calls us to live faithfully for him, and he promises eternal life to all who fully believe and trust in him.

Lord Jesus, reign over our hearts as we live for you in this world. We trust in you for eternal life. Amen.