Thirty Days of VictorySample

The church in Smyrna was undergoing persecution while John was writing this letter. Jesus tells them not to be afraid of what they will have to suffer. Even though they are suffering, they are rich in faith. It can be easy to focus on what is going wrong during hard times, but Jesus reminds us that when we trust in him, even when things are hard, we are rich. In fact, he promises that those who persevere in the end will be victorious and receive eternal life. That's what he means by the "second death." We will not be spending eternity separated from him when he returns if we trust in him.

While you are going through difficult times, persevere in your faith. Think about how much it must have meant to the church in Smyrna that Jesus himself was encouraging them through John. His words ring true for us, too! Despite hard times, Jesus cares, and he is with us. When we persevere, we will be victorious in him!