Our Scripture reading today is Revelation 2:8-10.
Verse 10, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Do we have any idea what it means to suffer persecution for our faith? It would appear that in Smyrna they truly knew what it meant. “For a man to become a Christian anywhere was to become an outlaw. In Smyrna above all places, for a man to enter the Christian Church was literally to take his life in his hands. In Smyrna the church was a place for heroes.” (Barclay) “This ‘tribulation’ does not mean the common trials to which all flesh is heir. Some dear souls think they are bearing their cross every time they have a headache. The tribulation mentioned here is trouble they would not have had if they had not been Christians.” (Havner)
This prison was in no way a place of rehabilitation, but it was a place of great punishment. Now read the first phrase of verse 10 again. "Fear none of those things..." These believers were told not to fear the suffering. God had and always has a purpose for suffering. Romans 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." The church at Smyrna would come through their suffering bringing much glory to God. There is no evil spoken of this church compared to the others.
By the grace of God, we endure suffering and possibly some day persecution for our faith. We can pass the test and bring glory to God. What a privilege to bring Him honour and praise!