Revelation 3:7-13 Devotional Scripture - God Requires Faithfulness

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.  Revelation 3:7

In that day, the chief royal steward would have the large master key of the palace fastened to the shoulder of his tunic. The key was a picture of the authority of the chief steward. Jesus is the one with the key to both heaven and earth. He has the authority to open and shut doors of opportunity in our lives.

 

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 3:8

 

Jesus only had words of praise for the church at Philadelphia. This church didn’t have the wrong teaching like some of the other churches and it wasn’t a dead church.  He was happy with this church.  They trusted in the Lord even in their weakness. They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. They knew they really needed God's strength. They had not denied Christ's name.  They expressed their allegiance to Jesus, by the way they lived.

If you have even a little strength and you keep God’s word and you don’t deny His name than He has nothing but commendation for you. He doesn’t require that you have any power or strength.  He requires you to be faithful to His name and to keep His word. He will give you the strength you need when you need it. All He requires from us is to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, guard His word and be faithful to His word.

Because the Philadelphians had maintained God's truth by living it before men, Jesus promised to keep them from the hour of trial which is to come upon all who dwell on the earth. This is a promise of exemption from the Tribulation Period described in Revelation 6-19.

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out 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 I will write on him My new name. 

Revelation 3:11-12

Pillars were pictures of strength and stability. Being a pillar in the community carries the thought of strength, honor, and permanent security.  The overcomer will have three names written on him: the name of God, the name of the New Jerusalem and the new name of the Lord Jesus.  These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because it shows we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not.