January 12, 2016
Hold On!
I am
coming soon. Hold on to what you have. - Revelation 3:11
Read:
Revelation
3:7-13
A cowboy friend of
mine who grew up on a ranch in Texas has a number of colorful sayings. One of
my favorites is “It don’t take much water to make good coffee.” And when
someone ropes a steer too big to handle or is in some kind of trouble, my
friend will shout, “Hold everything you’ve got!” meaning “Help is on the way!
Don’t let go!”
In the book of
Revelation we find letters to “the seven churches in the province of Asia”
(chs. 2–3). These messages from God are filled with encouragement, rebuke, and
challenge, and they speak to us today just as they did to the first-century
recipients.
Twice in these letters we find the phrase,
“Hold on to what you have.” The Lord told the church at Thyatira, “Hold on to
what you have until I come” (2:25). And to the church in Philadelphia He said,
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your
crown” (3:11). In the midst of great trials and opposition, these believers
clung to God’s promises and persevered in faith.
When our circumstances are harsh and sorrows
outnumber joys, Jesus shouts to us, “Hold everything you’ve got! Help is on the
way!” And with that promise, we can hold on in faith and rejoice.
Lord, we cling to Your promise, expect Your return, and hold
on with confidence as we say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
The promise of Christ’s return calls us to persevere in faith.
INSIGHT:
The detailed description of Jesus in
Revelation 1 underscores the authority by which the letters to the seven
churches in chapters 2–3 were written and the certainty of their contents. They
contain evaluations, warnings, and promises—alternately praising or condemning
the churches for their faith or lack of it.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2016