Tag: He is coming
Eternal Glory and Dominion
Scripture reading for December 1st: Esther 1-3, Psalm 139, Revelation 1
Key Scriptures: Revelation 1:4-7 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, the Ruler of kings on earth. To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.”
John was imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Gospel. He was likely in his late eighties at this time and had been an Apostle of Jesus Christ, a missionary and church planter and now an overseer. Writing to the seven churches he oversaw, he described God the Father and Jesus Christ to them. They are the eternal Ones, having past existence, present reality and perfect future existence. Jesus Christ, the Son, loves us now and demonstrated His love by giving His blood for our freedom. He made us part of His kingdom and priesthood. To Him and the Father belong eternal glory and dominion. Jesus is coming soon and every eye will behold Him!
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You have redeemed me by Your blood and freed me from my sins by Your divine grace and favor. Guide me today to fulfill Your will and prepare me for Your soon return.
Esther 2:17 “. . the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
Drawing Near or shrinking back?
Scripture reading for November 11th: Hebrews 10:19-39
Once a person understands the new covenant and the benefits of believing on Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins, there is a choice to be made. We must either draw near to God through Jesus Christ or choose to go our own way. The writer of Hebrews plainly lays out the choice in the passage we are reading today. We can choose freely, but the consequences of our choice will come as stated by Scripture!
“Therefore, brother, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of god, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:19-23) The logical choice is drawing near to God by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice and priesthood! We are free from sin and condemnation and are made pure through His blood. (Hebrews 9:14) He promised that those who would believe on Him would be saved completely! (Hebrews 7:25)
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. . . .It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10: 26-27, 31) This warning concerned the sin of unbelief in God’s final Word, Jesus. Willful rejection is the same as willful sin under the old covenant. Sacrifice could be made for sins in ignorance and they would be accepted by God. But willful, defiant sinning was punishable by death. (Numbers 15:27-31)
Who in their right mind would shrink back from the promise of eternal life, a clean conscience, rest from religious labors and freedom from the fear of death? Who would choose standing before God and having to answer for their own sins? So we are encouraged not to throw away our confidence by shrinking back, but to go on towards Jesus who is our reward! The best is yet to come for those who hold fast! (Hebrews 10:35-29)