“You Have Little Strength, Yet . . .”
Scripture Reading — Psalm 34:1-22; Revelation 3:8-10
“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
I love passages in the Bible that show how Jesus welcomed children, blessed them, and urged his followers to come to him with childlike faith. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus expects us to be as trusting as children.
David wrote in Psalm 34, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles,” and “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (vv. 6, 11).
The Philadelphia church had little strength. They had little power to make their presence felt. They were a small group of people without a lot of movers and shakers. But what they had was a deep and abiding faith, like that of little children. They trusted Jesus despite the lies told by local synagogue members. And although they couldn’t do much against those adversaries, they could believe in Jesus.
To this church Jesus pointed out the open door to the kingdom of heaven. He had lovingly opened that door by his death and resurrection, and they had entered through faith. They had kept his word and had not denied his name.
A child with faith willingly makes childlike but confident assertions about Jesus. Let’s remember that we are God’s children, whom he loves, and that we can trust him with childlike faith.
Lord, teach us to be like little children who believe with awe and wonder. Help us to trust you fully and completely. Amen.
About the author — Evan Heerema
Evan Heerema is a retired pastor who served churches in Washington state and in Michigan. He was also on the teaching staff at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for ten years. He and his wife are the parents of two daughters and the grandparents of two grandsons.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!