Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 21
Key Scriptures: Revelation 21:1-5 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be His people and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He Who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, Write this down, for these Words are trustworthy and true.”
John next viewed a great transformation of the heavens and the earth. The old passed away and a new heaven appeared and the earth appeared without a sea to divide it. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, came down from heaven and rested on the new earth and heaven and earth were joined together as never before. God was now dwelling in the midst of His people and they experienced His great mercy, provision and renewal in every aspect of their lives. This was a vision of the future that John saw as a gift of God’s grace to write down for all who would read and heed and believe and receive! Beware! Some will be left out because of their failure to repent and choose Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:6-7 “And He said to me, “It is done!” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for these great Words of truth that inspire me with a vision of the future of Your people and their inheritance. I look forward to living in the new heaven and new earth and seeing Your will fully done on earth as in heaven. I long for Your coming and the completion of Your great plan of salvation. Give me opportunity to share this plan with those outside of Your grace that none may perish!
Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Numbers 3-5, Hebrews 12
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 12:15-17 “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”
The writer of Hebrews admonished the believers about roots of bitterness that may be lingering in their hearts and souls towards others. Sometimes they come from family strife and worldliness, as in the case of Esau. Other times they can come from sexual sins exhibited by Esau’s escapades with foreign women. Sin can take us further than we want to go and exact a price higher than we want to pay! God’s grace can be obtained through true repentance and faith in Christ’s blood sacrifice.
Numbers 5:23-24 “Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain.”
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I rest completely in Your grace to cover my sins confessed before You. Deliver me from bitter roots and pain caused by strife, worldliness, and sexual sin by empowering me through Your grace to live free and holy before you.