3:8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
– Revelation 3:8
How often in this world do we feel like we have zero power to make any sort of difference? This is especially a strong feeling when we are facing a diagnosis that seems daunting, or are caring for a loved one who is sick or suffering. As parents we often feel helpless to protect our children from negative influences, bullying and danger. We stand by wishing, hoping against all hope, that there would be something, anything, we could do to help. That feeling of helplessness can be despairing. That’s because we are doers. We are fixers. We like to be active, solving problems, working things out, making an impact.
It’s that way for the Church as well, but especially small churches. In small communities of faith we aren’t sure that we can make any difference beyond gathering for worship on Sunday. Sometimes even that is a struggle with a shortage of pastors, COVID-19 shutdowns and a serious lack of resources at our disposal. It’s almost as if the apostle John was speaking to those in smaller congregations, “I know you have little power or influence, but you have remained faithful and have not denied Jesus!” There’s something important about simply being faithful, but as doers we like to see results! We forget that it is faith in Christ that actually sustains us. There’s a spiritual depth and maturity to being steadfast, relying solely on Jesus, and trusting that He will use our lives no matter how much or how little we have.
This was the case for the Christians in Philadelphia, a city in Asia Minor. The Word of the Lord came to them through the apostle John and it was a word of encouragement in the face of trials and rejection. They didn’t have a lot, but they were faithful, and Jesus made a solemn promise, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast (to) what you have, so that no one may seize your crown” (Revelation 3:10–11).
What we have is Jesus, now and forever! When we have nothing else in all the world, be it a lack of power, health, influence, resources, or anything else we think we need, we always have Jesus. He has promised us an eternal crown and a place in the New Jerusalem, the city of God, with Him. He has given us faith and has strengthened and sustained us through every trial. He has opened a door for us to His kingdom, a door that no one can shut. Furthermore, He promises to protect us from those who seek to steal our faith, threaten our bodies, or lead us into sin. “Hold fast,” He exclaims. “Hold onto me!”
We don’t have to be fixers, doers, or solvers of all problems because we have the living Lord on our side, and this is all we need as we wait for His imminent return. Amen.
Prayer: Loving God, help us to wait patiently for Christ’s return. In the face of our penchant to fix everything, remind us that all we need is Jesus. He will give us what we need and sustain us in faith until He comes again in glory. Amen.
Devotion written by the Rev. Dr. Amy Little
Watch a video recording of the devotional daily: facebook.com/thenalc
Morning Psalms
Evening Psalms
This daily prayer and Bible reading guide, Devoted to Prayer (based on Acts 2:42), was conceived and prepared by the Rev. Andrew S. Ames Fuller, director of communications for the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). After a challenging year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been provided with a unique opportunity to revitalize the ancient practice of daily prayer and Scripture reading in our homes. While the Reading the Word of God three-year lectionary provided a much-needed and refreshing calendar for our congregations to engage in Scripture reading, this calendar includes a missing component of daily devotion: prayer. This guide is to provide the average layperson and pastor with the simple tools for sorting through the busyness of their lives and reclaiming an act of daily discipleship with their Lord. The daily readings follow the Lutheran Book of Worship two-year daily lectionary, which reflect the church calendar closely. The commemorations are adapted from Philip H. Pfatteicher’s New Book of Festivals and Commemorations, a proposed common calendar of the saints that builds from the Lutheran Book of Worship, but includes saints from many of those churches in ecumenical conversation with the NALC. The introductory portion is adapted from Christ Church (Plano)’s Pray Daily. Our hope is that this calendar and guide will provide new life for congregations learning and re-learning to pray in the midst of a difficult and changing world.