Tag: revelation of Jesus
The Time is Near
Scripture reading for November 30th: Revelation 1, Psalm 89, Proverbs 22
Revelation 1:3-7 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 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, and the Ruler of the kings on earth. To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priest 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 the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so, Amen.”
We have come to the last book of Holy Scripture. It is unique in that it promises a blessing to all who read it aloud, those who hear it read, and those who apply what is written. This is really true of all Scripture, but is plainly stated at the beginning of this final revelation of Jesus Christ. John, the youngest Apostle, was in his nineties, and imprisoned on a small island, Patmos. He received this revelation directly from Jesus as he was at worship. He was instructed to write down what he heard and saw and to send it to the seven churches of Asia under his eldership oversight. There was an urgency in this revelation to get Jesus’ Revelation out to God’s people. The time was ‘near’ of His coming again! His people would receive the ultimate blessing as they were faithfully waiting, passing on their faith and ready for Jesus!
Psalm 89:8 “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as You are, O Lord, with Your faithfulness all around You?
Prayer: Father God, no one is Mighty as You and Faithful to Your Word! I desire the blessing You have promised to all who read this Revelation, hear what is revealed, and put it into practice. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide me each day to share Your love and blessing of eternal life with my children and grandchildren as well as those in my neighborhood. Help me to live in awareness of Your soon return.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Prepare for action!
Scripture reading for October 12th: 1st Peter 1
Key Scriptures: 1st Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He Who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””
Peter, the impulsive apostle, was now writing a letter to the church after years of following Jesus and serving Christ faithfully. He offered instruction to fellow-believers from the grace that he had received over the years. He called believers to prepare for action in their minds. They need not be confused by worry or fear or drunk on the circumstances of the world that they lived in. They must be sober-minded and centered on the fulness of grace that would be brought to them when Jesus Christ returned. Because of this hope, they must be obedient to Christ Jesus and pursue holiness of thought and deed, not being dominated by their former passions and the ignorance that kept them in spiritual darkness. True faith actively pursues obedience and holiness because God’s Word calls us to it.
1st Peter 1:17-19 “And if you call on Him as Father Who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear through out the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a Lamb without blemish or spot.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, as I read this Word of God from Peter, I prepare my mind for action to obey You in all Your loving instruction. I believe in the grace that I have received from trusting in Jesus Christ and His shed blood, and look forward to the full salvation experience when Jesus is revealed again. Help me daily to be holy and obedient to the Holy Word and Holy Spirit.
1st Peter 1:22-23 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God; . . “
Rejoicing in our inheritance!
Scripture reading for November 7th: 1st Peter 1, Psalms 73-74, Proverbs 7
Key Scriptures: 1st Peter 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this your rejoice, through now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Peter begins his letter to the church with rejoicing in Jesus and joy at believers ‘new birth’! This new life is brought about by faith and is laid hold of by faith. Faith must be proved genuine and is often tested by trials and temptations here on earth. Genuine faith will result in “glory, honor and praise” at the return of Jesus Christ for His Church! We will be caught up in His glory forever!
Faith Confession: I have been born again into a living hope through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I rejoice in the coming inheritance I will receive, at the revelation of Jesus Christ when He comes for me and all His people of faith.
Psalm 73:24 “You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory.”