In His 2nd letter, to the church in Smyrna, Jesus addresses a church that face severe persecution. The danger for them and for Christians today is that we might compromise. We possibly do not face death for our faith but must die to ourselves (Luke 9:23). We can grow weary in the temptation of the world, being marginalised, intolerance and disappointment. Yet Jesus calls us to persevere that we might receive the crown of life.