And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
–Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
–I Corinthians 15:56-58
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our arms of mercy and grace stretched out to the lost.
Your arms were stretched out all day long to us while we were lost sheep who had gone astray.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our arms strong to carry Gospel seed to the ends of the earth.
You sent Your Son from heaven to earth so unworthy sinners like us might be reconciled to You.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our strength renewed so we might mount up like eagles and go where You send us to sow Gospel seed.
You sent Your Son from heaven to earth so unworthy sinners like us might be reconciled to You.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our hands and feet strong so we might faithfully persevere in sowing Gospel seed.
You graciously and freely sowed Your Gospel seed in our hearts.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our arms diligently sowing Your Gospel seed in desert places.
Your Gospel seed came and quickened our dead souls together with Christ.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our lips declaring the mystery of Christ even when none seem to understand.
You opened our hostile minds to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our mouths diligently sowing Your Gospel seed to deaf ears.
Your Gospel message came to us with power and opened our ears to hear.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our mouths diligently casting Your Gospel bread upon the waters.
Your Spirit breathes and moves as You will to bring the second birth to once-born souls.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our hearts patiently waiting for the later rains to come after we've sowed Your Gospel seed.
You baptize us once more with Your Spirit's power to us when we are dry and in need of refreshing.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times when we are tempted to give up,
Keep our faith strong and believing You can bear fruit in barren wombs.
Your Holy Spirit moved and came to dwell in our once-barren wombs.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times when we are tempted to give up,
Keep our eyes fixed on the city without foundations when all around us is crumbling.
You will continue to build Your Church and the gates of hell will not prevail.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times when we are tempted to give up,
Keep our ears open to the great cloud of witnesses when we hear calls to give up working.
Your Holy Spirit kept these men and women faithful, steadfast and patient.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
At those times we are tempted to give up,
Keep our hearts patiently looking to the day we will bring our sheaves with us with rejoicing.
You have sealed us and given us the firstfruits of Your Spirit.
Keep us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in Your work of sowing Gospel seed.
O Lord, remind us once more that our labor in You is not in vain.
Amen.
May He keep us steadfast, immovable and always abounding in His work of sowing Gospel seed
for we know our labor in Him is not in vain.