Fostering Faithfulness

To The Smyrna Saints The Lord Said: -- "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Here are five spiritual words to encourage us to greater faithfulness in the Lord's service.

Abide: -- As disciples of Christ, our relationship with the Lord is like that of a branch and vine (Jn. 15:1-8). Jesus is the Vine. We are the branches. The appeal is for us to abide -- some form of the word "abide" occurs 7 times in these 8 verses of Scripture. Abiding in Christ enables us to be faithful (vss. 4,5) results in answered prayers (vs. 7), causes God to be glorified (vs. 8), and proves our discipleship (vs. 8). Those who fail to abide become lifeless (vs. 5), are cast out (vs. 6). "And now, little children, abide in Him: that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 Jn. 2:28).

Cleave: -- When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he "exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord" (Acts 11:23). To cleave is to cling or adhere to. In the Old Testament, those who did not cleave to the Lord were destroyed by the Lord (Deut. 10:20).

Continue: -- The ardent appeal of the Lord and His apostles was for Christians to continue. "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed" (Jn. 8:31). "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue ye in My love" (Jn. 15:9). "Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43). "...continue in His goodness..." (Rom. 11:22). "...continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:23). "But continue thou..." (2 Tim. 3:14).

Endure: -- Where lawlessness abounds, love grows cold. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24:12,13). In the Parable of the Sower, the stony ground represented those who "endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended" (Mk. 4:17). It's not enough for us to endure for a time -- we must endure unto the end!

Hold: -- The Hebrew writer penned, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Heb. 10:23). Imagine yourself in the midst of a large sea. A ship has come by and you're thrown a rope to safety. You are holding firmly to the rope, lest you perish. We must hold to the Lord with everything we have, never letting go!

The crown of life is promised to the faithful. May we show ourselves faithful in the execution of the Lord's commands!