Revelation 2:9; And Tribulation…

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I knowthe blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

The living and true God was very real to the members of Symrna, an integral part of their everyday. They ordered their lives according to His Word. They were obedient to the commandments of God.

Exodus 20:3-7 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

They are not to worship idols made with men’s hands. They will not partake of the sin of idolatry. They esteemed God’s judgement for disobedience more than the threat of disobedience to the traditions of men. The consequence of their disobedience was of greater consequence than their defiance to Caesar’s decree. They obtained mercy from God by their obedience to second commandment. This was the promise given that God Himself will honour. How He would honour His Word is to be experienced by His people when they are put to the test!

God gave to the church in Symrna courage beyond measure, boldness to testify for their Lord for all eternity. Indeed, God is praised, Christ exalted for their faith even unto death. They knew by faith, absent from the body is present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:6 “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” 

Their unfeigned faith, steadfast and sure infuriated their persecutors. There is a price to be paid for their faith – Christ exhorted them to be faithful unto death. They trusted their Saviour. Thank God for the example of courage for our learning. Amen.