Monday, October 10, 2016

Revelation 1:17-20

Revelation 1:17-20
And when I saw him I fell to his feet as dead and He put his right hand on me while saying, “Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last and the one who lives, and even though I became dead and look – I am living into the eras of the eras – and I have the keys of death and Hades.  Therefore, write what you see: even what is and what is about to become after this.  The mystery of the seven stars that you saw on my right hand and the seven golden lamp stands is: the seven stars are angels of the seven assemblies and the seven lamp stands are the seven assemblies.

Thoughts for Today


First Thought:

I think that it is really neat that the same hand that holds the seven stars is the same hand that comforts John as he beholds this vision.  The seven stars are His messengers to the churches about which John is concerned.  Jesus holds the comfort of the churches in the same hand that He holds the comfort of John Himself.  There is a great symmetry here.  Jesus does desire to comfort our pain.  He does desire to be present in our sorrow and worry.

Do you feel the comfort of Jesus when you are worried or grieving?  Why can this be an important dynamic to our faith?

Second Thought:

Jesus continues to give John reasons to believe in the midst of his worry.  Jesus reminds John that He is the first and the last.  He was alive, died, and raised into new life!  What can come upon us that is worse than death?  Jesus has conquered death; He can conquer everything.  We have reason to depend upon Him.

How do you rely upon Jesus?  How do you feel His strength in your life?

Third Thought:

Comforted, Jesus sets John onto a mission.  Jesus tells John to write what He sees.  Now that he feels the comfort of Jesus, it is his job to pass along the comfort to others.  John doesn’t just receive so that he can feel better.  John receives so that feeling comfort he can give to others.

How do you pass along what you receive from God?  Why do you think God asks those of us who receive to be a part of His plan?


Passage for Tomorrow: Revelation 2:1-7

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