Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

TUESDAY JANUARY 12


HOLD ON

READ:
REVELATION 3:11
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I am coming
soon. Hold on to
what you have.
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A cowboy friend of mine who grew up on a ranch in Texas has a number of colorful sayings. One of my favorites is "It don't take much water to make good coffee." And when someone ropes a steer too big to handle or is in some kind of trouble, my friend will shout, "Hold everything you'v got!"

In the book of Revelation we find letters to "the seven churches in the province of Asia" (CHS. 2-3). These messages from God are filled with encouragement, rebuke, and challenge, and they speak to us today just as they did to the first-century recipients.

Twice in these letters we find the phrase, "Hold on to what you have." The Lord told the church at Thyatira, "Hold on to what you have until I come" (2:25). And to the church in Philadelphia He said, "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown" (3:11). In the midst of great trials and opposition, these believers clung to God's promises and persevered in faith.

When our circumstances are harsh and sorrows outnumber joys, Jesus shouts to us, "Hold everything you've got! Help is on the way!" And with that promise, we can hold on in faith and rejoice.

_________David MCCasland

**Lord, we cling to Your promise expect Your return, and hold on
with confidence as we say, Even so come, Lord Jesus!"
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The promise of Christ's return calls un to persevere in faith.

************************************Today's bible Reading __ Revelation *******************************
7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who
holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut,
and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds.
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can
shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept
my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those
who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jerws
thought they are not, but are liars_I will make them come and
fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will
also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on
the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that
no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I
will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will
they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and
the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is
coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write
on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear
why the Spirit say to the churches."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The detailed description of Jesus in
Revelation 1 underscores the authority by which the letters
to the seven churches in chapters 2-3 were written and the
certainty of their contents. They contain evaluations, warnings
and promises__alternately praising or condemning the churches
for their faith or lack of it. J. K. Hudberg