A little strength

"I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. – Revelation 3v8

The church at Philadelphia did not really have it any better than any of the other churches. It was tough being a church in those days. No one accepted them and many openly opposed them. The government persecuted them. They didn’t have much, but they had what counted.

This church had a little strength, but it was enough. That little strength gave them the ability to do two mighty things; they kept God’s word and they did not deny His name despite all that was going on around them.

It doesn’t take much to stay faithful. He doesn’t take much to do right. God uses the weak things of this world to defeat the mighty things.

We have accepted the line that we need to fight God’s battles with earthly weapons of money and resources. In reality we don’t need much material might to do what really counts, do we?

How are we all doing when it comes to keeping His word and not denying His name? Do we keep His word when we depend on our strength and wisdom? Do we not deny His name when we think we can use our political might to make sure everything is going ‘our way’ in our society?

When we stay true to Christ and His word we can be assured that He sets before us an open door that no man can shut. We don’t have that promise when we kick the door open in our own strength.