God calls me to serve Him with a heart of Brotherly Love, trusting that He will make a way when I cannot: …Because He sees me, He knows me, and He loves me.
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Scripture
Revelation 3:7-8 7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.’
Observation
What an encouragement this letter must have been, to the church in Philadelphia! Reading between the lines, I can almost hear the fatigue of this church family–working, laboring, fighting the good fight, and sharing the Good News with a wicked world. How amazing, for God himself to recognize their faithfulness and to write this letter to them through John!
Though their strength was little, their faithfulness was great. Though their power was small, their hearts were mighty. Though they faced insurmountable obstacles, God himself was making a way.
Application
I love this passage. There are many churches listed and mentioned by God in the book of Revelation. There are mighty events happening, great conflicts occurring, and all of the forces of heaven and hell on display. …And there, in the middle of it all, is the little congregation of Philadelphia: The church of Brotherly Love. They weren’t the biggest, or the most famous, or the mightiest…but they were faithful. They had ‘but little power’, but they used what power they had, in pursuit of God. Instead of bemoaning their limitations they simply kept serving faithfully, and following God steadfastly.
AND GOD NOTICED!
God didn’t need for them to be somebody different. He didn’t need for their circumstances to be different. He didn’t need for their power to be different. He simply needed them to faithfully serve Him–and He was more than sufficient to make up for what they seemed to lack.
This week, I need to serve God with that same heart: Not waiting for my circumstances to change, or for more resource to appear–but simply following God faithfully and steadfastly with what I have, even when the things that I have don’t seem to be adequate. I need to serve Him with a heart of Brotherly Love, trusting that He will make a way when I cannot:
…Because He sees me, He knows me, and He loves me.
Prayer
Thank you God for seeing me! Thank you for loving me, even when I don’t feel adequate or capable. Thank you for making a way through impossible circumstances, as I follow you. Help me to walk steadfastly, trusting in Your power and not my own.
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