Revelation 2:8-11 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;… I. A GREAT TRUST. II. A SOLEMN INJUNCTION CONCERNING THIS TRUST. 1. Be serious that you may be faithful. From the Christian standpoint what a thing is life! What solemn mystery broods over it! What passionate interests it holds! If we consider all this we cannot be frivolous. 2. Be firm that you may be faithful. A great part of practical faithfulness consists in resistance. 3. Be ready that you may be faithful. Say "Yes" before your fears have time to shape "No." Say "No" before your inclinations have time to whisper "Yes." Stand out declared, before friends or enemies have cause to think you are yielding to the point where the assault is made. 4. Be tender, gracious, and loving, that you may be faithful The Master whom we serve is the Saviour, whose pity never sleeps. Thus in the Christian faithfulness there is a combination of things which seem opposite — hardness like that of the adamant, and softness like that of the air. 5. Be patient, that you may be faithful. III. A DECISIVE DAY. It is the day of death. "Be thou faithful unto death." Better is this end of life than the beginning. IV. A GREAT REWARD. "I will give thee a crown of life." (A. Raleigh, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; |