Strength Greater than Diplomats and Armies
12/12 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 13; Revelation 3; Haggai 1; John 2
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
12/12 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 13; Revelation 3; Haggai 1; John 2
Revelation 3:8, KJV
…for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.
PROMISE
If you ask most Christians, at least those familiar with chapters two and three of Revelation, they might say that their church, and they themselves, more closely identify with the church in Philadelphia. Absent of being “dead” like Sardis (Rev 3:1) or rebuked with “But I have this against you” like Ephesus or Thyatira (Rev 2:4, 20), it would appear at first glance that the Lord Jesus has nothing but praise for the believers in Philadelphia. After all, the city is named “brotherly affection” from the original Greek. Can this be praise alone? The English Standard Version renders the original Greek in this way:
“‘I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.’”
The ESV translates the Greek word καὶ (kai) as “yet,” indicating that despite the little strength or power that they had, they still cherished, protected, and honored Jesus’ word and name. Which is correct, the KJV or ESV? My answer: yes. With the ESV, the Lord’s statement to Philadelphia, and to you and me, is cautionary. Scripture tells us that we are to…
…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10
Moreover, we are not to make any provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Rom 13:14), nor are we to lean upon our own understanding, but instead, trust and acknowledge Christ in all our ways (Prov 3:5-6). A heavenly goal can only be accomplished by heavenly means. In other words, being conformed to Christ’s image, we must trust thoroughly in Him, just as He trusted, honored, and obeyed the Father in all things. The arm of the flesh is not only insufficient to grasp heavenly rewards, it undermines the exaltation of Christ by the gratification and glorification of self.
Yet the statement of our Lord is a two-edged sword, both praising us, and encouraging us with a promise, as the KJV also correctly renders the verse in English. Jesus said,
“If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6
This same principle applies to our strength in the Lord Jesus, trusting our thoughts, words, and actions to the power of His might. A little strength in the Lord is greater power than kingdoms with savvy diplomats and mighty armies. It is written,
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
When we trust in the Lord Jesus with all our heart, we will keep His word and not deny His holy name. Hallelujah! What a Savior! What a promise!