To the Church of Brotherly Love

Prayer – Lord, You told us to love one another—so if we are obedient, we should be loving each other…and known to be part of the church of brotherly and sisterly love. In Greek Philadelphia means philos, love, and adelphos, brotherly. Our relationship with You is the most important thing in life, so help each of us reading this to be more loving…to obediently follow Your commandments and to honor You in all that we think, say, and do.

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open: "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name." Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Revelation 3:7-13

Meditate. What are you learning about God and life from these letters to the seven churches?

 

What does a key do? Opens and locks a door. A door to what, you might ask? What door is Jesus wanting opened or locked?

 

The key of David is mentioned in a scripture passage where the Lord speaks about taking down and replacing a palace administrator.

I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. Isaiah 22:22

Jesus reveals Himself here as Holy and True. We know Him as the Truth from other New Testament passages.

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

 

He is also called Holy and True in Revelation Six by the martyred souls.

They shouted to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?" Revelation 6:10 (Underlined for emphasis.)

The Philadelphia church, like the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:9, is opposed by the synagogues that belong to Satan. But this church doesn’t have to worry since Jesus promised that He will take care of them, to protect them during a time of testing that is coming upon the whole world. The Philadelphia church has persevered, being obedient by obeying Jesus and not denying Him. Jesus also wrote about obedience in response to words of prophecy in Revelation 22. He is coming soon.

"Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book." Revelation 22:7

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

Hold onto what you have. Look at what you have and recall that Jesus told the church at Philadelphia to hold onto what they have so that no one can take away their crowns. Those crowns are important in that it declared a person’s power and majesty. There is a difference between the crowns being taken and casting or laying down their crowns before the Lord.

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased." Revelation 4:9-11

In this church in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, they are obedient to the Lord…and they will hang on to what they have—the promises of the Lord. Where do you stand today in your relationship with the Lord?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure. Isaiah 33:5-6

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Cattails nearby home.

Are you hungry?
God has not forgotten His recipe for manna, but you may have to find some local foods at some point if products on the grocery shelves get low. There are edible foods you can forage in your yard or nearby. Google “forage foods” and see what “foods” you have right there in your own yard or neighborhood. Some foods maybe nuts that grow on trees in your city—but that are a fruit that is produced at only one time of the year. Other foods appear as weeds during the spring and summer months.

 

Maybe you are blessed to live near an area that has cattails. These are usually found along wetlands, ponds, and streams. The shoots, stalks, green catkins—before they turn brown (boiled, buttered and eaten like corn on the cob), pollen (use in pancake batter or with flour in bread), and roots (boiled, baked or broiled) are all edible. They can be enjoyed raw in the spring when they are tender and fresh, and later in the summer they will taste best if cooked. Look on line for more specific ways to prepare and eat the different parts. God provides us with such an amazing bounty of food…and it may be right outside your door. Seek and you will find!

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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