Revelation 3:7-13: a reflection

7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: 8“I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name. 9Behold, I make some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

To a church with only a little strength, yet faithful, Christ speaks encouragement: he has set before them an open door that no one can shut, and commends them for keeping his word with the little they had. I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut, Christ says, that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name. This church was not strong or impressive; it had only a little strength. Yet it had kept Christ's word and not denied his name. And to this faithful church with little strength, Christ gives a great encouragement: he, who holds the key and opens what no one can shut, has set before them an open door that no one can close, and calls them to hold fast what they have. This shows Christ setting an open door before those who, with little strength, keep his word. Christ sets before you an open door that no one can shut. Faithfulness with little strength is commended and honored by Christ. Be faithful with the little you have, keeping Christ's word. Christ opens doors no one can close; hold fast what you have.

Notice what Christ says to this small, faithful church. He does not rebuke them for weakness; he acknowledges it honestly, you have a little strength, but he does not despise it. Instead, he commends them for what they did with their little strength: they kept his word, and did not deny his name. Their faithfulness, not their strength, is what he honors. And to them Christ, who holds the key of David and opens what no one can shut, gives a great encouragement: I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. He has opened for them an opportunity, a way forward, that no opposition can close; and he calls them to hold fast what they have, that no one take their crown. This holds encouragement for us when we feel we have only a little strength. We can feel weak, small, unimpressive, lacking the strength to do much for God, and be tempted to think our little counts for nothing. But Christ does not despise little strength faithfully used; he commends those who, with the little they have, keep his word and do not deny him. And he is able to set before us open doors that no one can shut, opportunities and ways forward that no opposition can close. We are called to be faithful with the little strength we have, keeping his word, and to trust the Christ who opens doors no one can close and honors faithfulness. We do well to be faithful with the little strength we have, keeping Christ's word, trusting the Christ who opens doors no one can shut. Be faithful with the little strength you have; Christ honors it. Christ sets open doors before his faithful ones that no one can shut. Do not despise your little strength; use it faithfully for Christ. Hold fast what you have, trusting the Christ who opens and shuts.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ commends faithfulness with little strength and sets before his faithful ones an open door no one can shut, as he encouraged this small, faithful church. We can despise our little strength as counting for nothing; but Christ commended this church for keeping his word with little strength, and set an open door before them. Be faithful. Do not despise the little strength you have; use it faithfully, keeping Christ's word, and trust the Christ who opens doors no one can shut and honors faithfulness. Be faithful with the little strength you have, keeping Christ's word and not denying his name, and trust the Christ who sets before his faithful ones an open door that no one can shut, as to a church with only a little strength yet faithful Christ spoke encouragement, that he had set before them an open door no one could shut and commended them for keeping his word with the little they had; for this church was not strong or impressive but had only a little strength, yet it had kept Christ's word and not denied his name, and to this faithful church Christ, who holds the key and opens what no one can shut, gave a great encouragement, setting before them an open door no one could close and calling them to hold fast what they had, which holds encouragement for us when we feel we have only a little strength, since we can feel weak, small, and unimpressive, lacking the strength to do much for God, and be tempted to think our little counts for nothing, but Christ does not despise little strength faithfully used but commends those who with the little they have keep his word and do not deny him, and he is able to set before us open doors that no one can shut, opportunities and ways forward that no opposition can close, so that we are called to be faithful with the little strength we have and trust the Christ who opens doors no one can close and honors faithfulness, and we do well to do so.

Lord Jesus, to a church with only a little strength, yet faithful, you speak encouragement: you have set before them an open door that no one can shut, and commend them for keeping your word with the little they had. I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut, you say, that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name. This church was not strong or impressive; it had only a little strength. Yet it had kept your word and not denied your name. And to this faithful church with little strength, you give a great encouragement: you, who hold the key and open what no one can shut, have set before them an open door that no one can close, and call them to hold fast what they have. Show me what you say to this small, faithful church. You do not rebuke them for weakness; you acknowledge it honestly, you have a little strength, but you do not despise it. Instead, you commend them for what they did with their little strength: they kept your word, and did not deny your name. Their faithfulness, not their strength, is what you honor. And to them you, who hold the key of David and open what no one can shut, give a great encouragement: I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. You have opened for them a way forward that no opposition can close; and you call them to hold fast what they have. This holds encouragement for me when I feel I have only a little strength. I can feel weak, small, unimpressive, lacking the strength to do much for you, and be tempted to think my little counts for nothing. But you do not despise little strength faithfully used; you commend those who, with the little they have, keep your word and do not deny you. And you are able to set before me open doors that no one can shut. Take that to my heart. Keep me from despising the little strength I have; help me use it faithfully, Lord, keeping your word and not denying your name, and trusting you, who open doors no one can shut and honor faithfulness, holding fast what I have.