So, what does Christ think of his church? … He loves His church as a groom loves his bride. Revelations two and three contain seven love letters to the church, His bride. Each letter is addressed to a first-century Christian community in the roman province of Asia and although each letter’s message is related to the specific situations of those churches, they also express Christ’s care and concern for all churches across the centuries. Through praise and commendation, through warning and condemnation, through challenge and exhortation, Christ reveals what He wants his church to look like as we expectantly wait and work for His second coming.

Last week in the word, Christ challenged the hard-working church in Ephesus to return to their first love, the great love of Christ which saved them for purpose and passion. Today He calls on the congregation in Smyrna to be steadfast in suffering.