What we are more than

I'm still in chapter 2, but there is a feast of knowledge. I feel I'm only nibbling the outer crust. There is a recurring set of words here that has snagged my attention: "The one who conquers..." In each letter, there is a challenge. These challenges aren't tests, though. They are a matter of life and death in a sense. If the challenge is met successfully you are considered a conqueror, and conquerors are promised gifts. The Ephesian church is encouraged to repent and return to the things they did in the beginning, to return to their first love. Conquering comes through repentance. A sort of paradox: giving something up to win a victory. Smyrna is given other instructions, though. These brothers and sisters are instructed to "be faithful unto death." If they succeed, the gift given is a crown of life. Conquering is done through faith.
These lessons seem so easy, so simple, so childish. We've heard these lessons our entire lives if we've been in church. Repent and remain faithful. This is the life of a disciple of Christ. It is my belief that there is more here than this, though. I plan to continue digging and searching. So I will write more on this. My goal is to get back to this blogging, journaling, devotional thing. I miss it, and I need to endure at something more than my job. Pray for me, pray with me, and may we all have eyes to see and ears to hear.