Living as an Overcomer: Jesus’ Messages to the 7 Churches in RevelationSample

Day 2 – Exhibiting Steady Faithfulness: The Church in Smyrna

Smyrna was a Roman colony where most people worshiped Caesar as their lord. Roman citizens were required to recognize Caesar as their god. Christians living in Smyrna had another point of view; they refused to worship Caesar and instead exalted Jesus Christ as Lord of all. This inevitably created a conflict with the Roman government. Thus, they were going through the pressure and oppression of not yielding to the governmental authority concerning their claimed right of deity.

Scripture is clear that all who live as kingdom disciples under the Lordship of Jesus Christ will suffer persecution in some form or fashion. For example, Paul tells the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 3:4, “When we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass.”

That’s what the believers in Smyrna faced. Underneath the sovereign hand of God, who allowed them to experience suffering and persecution, their faith was tested.

Why We’re Tested

God often allows this testing so we will come to know Him in a more personal way. He expects three things from us: that we extend our experience of His compassion and kindness to others, grow in our walk with Him, and work to increase our intimacy with Him.

1. Extending Compassion and Kindness to Others

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

One reason God allows His followers to experience pain and troubles, even when we’re trying to please Him and publicly associate with Him, is that He knows somebody down the line will need comfort, too. He doesn’t want us to only offer a prayer for someone in need, He wants us to demonstrate the love of Christ through compassion and kindness. Like Jesus, He wants us to extend those to others where they are. In this way, we transfer the love of Jesus to whoever may need it most.

2. Growing in Our Walk with Christ

Another reason God allows believers who obediently follow Him to experience suffering is to grow them. We read in James 1:2- 4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

God allows various trials to enter our lives to take us to another level of spiritual growth. There is always purpose in your pain as a believer. God works behind the scenes to develop, strengthen, and guide you to His intended kingdom agenda.

3. Increasing Our Intimacy with Christ

God also allows us to be tested to deepen His reality in our lives—to have a more intimate relationship with Him. In Philippians 3:10, this is referred to as “the fellowship of His sufferings.” Fellowship refers to increased intimacy. It means coming to know Jesus in such a way that He becomes real in your daily life. If you turn to Jesus only when you need an answer to a question or want a blessing, protection, or bailout, that’s not truly knowing Him and all He has to offer you.

God will also often allow difficulties so you become desperate enough to truly seek Him. He lets you feel what He felt when He suffered on earth. He knows that when you do, you will snuggle up closer to Him. You will spend more time with Him in prayer. You will read more of His Word. You will come to know His heart.