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Devotional, Series

SEVEN LOADED LETTERS, Part 8: The Church That Held On

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SEVEN LOADED LETTERS, Part 8: The Church That Held On

Read Revelation 3:7-13

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“The Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

The Book of Revelation opens not with beasts or bowls, but with a voice—a call that echoes through time and space to a Church both ancient and present. These seven letters, delivered to communities scattered across Asia Minor, are more than historical artifacts. They are loaded with truth, urgency, and love. They speak to us, challenge us, and strip away illusions. In every age, Christ’s words to the Church still ask us to listen—and respond.

Image: AI-generated using OpenAI’s DALL·E and customized by the author. Used with the devotional “The Church That Held On” at Life-Giving Water Devotions.

Part 8: The Church That Held On. Jesus’ words to Philadelphia stand apart from the others. This church receives no rebuke. No harsh critique. Just encouragement, affirmation, and a simple plea: keep going. In a world addicted to power and spectacle, Jesus recognizes their quiet faithfulness. “You have little strength,” he says, “yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”

Philadelphia wasn’t the biggest or flashiest church. They didn’t have the numbers, the budget, or the prestige. But they had integrity. And when everything in the surrounding culture told them to compromise, to conform, to just give up—they held on.

Today, that kind of faith can feel invisible. The churches that grab headlines are often the ones that bow to political idols or chase celebrity pastors and prosperity promises. Meanwhile, smaller congregations that cling to Christ amid declining attendance or cultural irrelevance may feel forgotten. But Jesus hasn’t forgotten. He says: I’ve placed before you an open door no one can shut.

That phrase is powerful. Jesus doesn’t promise ease or success. He promises access—to himself, to the Kingdom, to a future that the world can’t block. No gatekeeping megachurch, no ideology, no empire can close a door he has opened.

There’s something deeply subversive here. Philadelphia may have been looked down on, but Jesus lifts them up. They had little strength, but they had unshakable faith. They were poor in power but rich in perseverance. They didn’t assimilate to the empire. They didn’t chase cultural approval. They just stayed true.

This isn’t about nostalgia or clinging to tradition for tradition’s sake. It’s about holding fast to the truth that Jesus is the Holy One, the True One, the One who holds the key of David. It’s about remembering who we follow—and why.

To those who overcome, Jesus promises a name—a new identity—and a place. Not celebrity. Not a platform. But a pillar in the temple of God. That’s not just metaphor. That’s legacy. That’s home.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Faithfulness rarely looks flashy. But Jesus sees. And the open doors he gives are worth more than any human spotlight.

PRAYER
Jesus, help us hold on. When we feel tired or invisible, remind us that you see. Give us courage to remain faithful—to you, to your call, to your open door. Make us pillars not in reputation, but in love. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI).

Devotional

Just Do It

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Read Joshua 24:1-16

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE

“But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” (James 1:22)

I am currently in the middle of another juice fast. Every quarter of a year or so, I go on a fast to reboot my body, to cleanse it of toxins, and to get myself back on track in terms of healthy eating and healthy living. The first couple of days of juicing are hard because the body is getting used to not eating, and all you can think of is eating. Also, the body is detoxing from the toxins that processed foods, caffeinated foods/beverages, and other food products deposit in it.  After the first two to three days, I start to feel golden, filled with energy and life. All is good.

Many people ask me how I can possibly do a juice fast, or how I can remain vegan. They usually will commend me on my iron will power and question I can possibly enjoy food anymore. After all, vegans don’t like eating right? I mean how could a vegan ever enjoy eating vegetables all the time? Aren’t veggies meant to be side dishes and not the main course?

Of course, I do not have iron will power. You can trust me on that. If I did I would not have gotten to 306 lbs to begin with. I just got to the point where my health became more important to me than any excuse I could possibly come up with. That’s what it came down to, I got fed up with making excuses and just started doing it.

People make excuses for a lot of things. When people find themselves facing a decision they know they should make but don’t want to, they will find reasons as to why they can’t do it.  I’m too tired…I’m just not skilled enough…I like this food or that food too much to switch now…I’m a nobody, so what difference can I make? These excuses and more are made as reasons for not making a decision to change and move forward.

As Joshua pointed out to the Israelites, we all find ourselves at some crossroad or another. We find ourselves facing down a decision to change. It’s time to choose now, this day, who we will serve. Will we serve our comfort zone and the status quo in order to avoid the changes we need to make? Will we serve our fears and make excuses as to why we CAN’T do things? Or will we serve God and make the necessary change because we’ve finally come to realize that the change needs to be made and God is calling us to make it. Whatever that change is, whatever God is calling you to do, stop excusing yourself, make the change, and see God’s iron will carry you through it.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin

PRAYER

Lord, I don’t want to make excuses anymore. I choose to make the decision to change from who I am to who you are calling me to be. Amen.