Bible Verse of the Day Monday October 31st 2022

 Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

This verse is part of a letter sent to the church at Smyrna, one of the seven churches from Revelation that received letters from the writings of John as a message from Christ Jesus. The church at Smyrna did not receive any admonition or reproach, as did some of the seven churches, but did receive some distinct words of encouragement. Therefore, it must have been heartening and uplifting for the Christians at Smyrna when they received this letter of motivation.

Jesus was letting them know that even though they were going through some temporary trials and tribulations, their faithfulness to Him would result in a victor's crown of life eternal. Their reassurance was that even if their persecutors took their physical lives, Jesus would give them eternal life (John 3:16).

It is no strain to follow Jesus when we are up on the mountaintop; we are in the valleys of despair and anguish that our true colors are exposed. Just as Satan was going to cause some Christians at Smyrna to land in a literal jail, he will cause a form of spiritual incarceration for the followers and believers of Christ Jesus today. We may not be required to spend time in a dark dungeon, but there will be spiritual chains that bind us from all sides. But, just as Jesus reassured the Christians at Smyrna that they did not need to fear, we today are also reassured through the Holy Word of God and the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit that God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

If we are grounded in the truth of God's Word, Satan will take that as a threat and respond accordingly. Paul called Satan the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) and the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Some people underestimate the powers of Satan, which result in their eyes being blinded to the light of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. On the other hand, we cannot overestimate him either; Satan has certain powers but only as God gave him. Satan cannot dangle any of his allusions and lies before us without God's permission. These are the tests mentioned in the text verse today, "the devil will put some of you in prison to test you," however, just as Jesus told the Christians at Smyrna about their faithfulness, the same holds today. Our faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ Jesus and our faith in Him will result in Satan having to retreat from his vicious assaults (James 4:7).

Regardless of the painful tribulation that the Christians in Smyrna faced, and despite the many assaults of Satan we have to endure today, we can be sure that God's love, grace, and mercy will never let us down. No matter how long we have to spend behind the spiritual bars of Satan's imaginary prison, we know that our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, will be with us. Furthermore, we know that just as we share in His suffering, we will also share His glory (Romans 8:17).