"Come, Lord Jesus" December 31 Readings: Revelation 21-22

Today's Reading - Revelation 21-22

Background

We spend a lot of time trying to find life, to find fun and contentment and pleasure and peace in this world. But in Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, we see a truth that helps us in the search for real life. Observe verses 1 and 2.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Coming from the throne of God is a river of living water that feeds the tree of life and brings healing to the nations. Life flows from the throne of God - and nowhere else. God is life. Real life, true life - it flows from his throne to us. Don't look for, from this world, what only God can offer. Eternal life, abundant life, joy, contentment and fulfillment, these flow from heaven in streams of living water. He alone satisfies the soul with everlasting joy.

The Bible begins with God speaking the world into existence. Now, the Bible ends with God's words again.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

First Jesus gives us a blessed promise. He's coming quickly. Oh, of course, quickly is defined by the One to whom a day is as a thousand years. But he is coming. One day. Soon or in the distant future, he will come and consummate this world in his glory. 

Devotional - Come, Lord Jesus!

 Theologians and preachers have speculated about heaven for a long time. The New Testament is clear about how we get there - we ride the coattails of the righteousness of Jesus Christ to eternal glory. None of us is worthy of heaven or fit for it. Since sin cannot dwell there, and we are all sinners, we are excluded until the blood of Christ cleanses us and the power of Christ makes us new. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ we who deserve hell can become fit for heaven.

That much is clear, but what will heaven be like? On that there is a wide divergence of opinion. The description given in Revelation 21 is not all that helpful. Look at verses 19-21.

The foundations of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone:the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.The 12 gates are 12 pearls; each individual gate was made of a single pearl. The broad street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

My guess is that John was doing the best he can to describe the glory he saw, but that heaven is so far above and beyond human experience that he did the best he could to write down what he saw. The problem is that I'm not really sure what chrysolite, chrysoprase or jacinth are. How about you? What does it mean that each of the gates was made of a single pearl, or that the street is made of a pure gold that looks like transparent glass? I just don't have a good sense of what that means. Pure gold like transparent glass?  Not visualizing that.

Heaven is beyond our existence. I cannot envision a sinless, perfect world, one that sin has never and will never touch, one that is unaffected by time, where death and decay have no place. In fact, that leads me to my point. When John describes heaven, he spends most of his time describing what isn't there.

• There's no sea (21:1). This may refer to the sinful nations of the world. The roiling and political machination is gone and Jesus reigns supreme. 
• Death no longer exists (21:4). Jesus has once and for all defeated the enemy of humanity and it is no longer a threat. 
• There's no tears, grief, crying or pain (21:4). All the "former things" have passed away as the new order of things has taken over. God is now in charge and all is well. Every trace of sin, of the curse and all of its effects, has been forever banished. 
• There's no sanctuary (21:22). No sacrifice or place of worship is needed. God is there personally. 
• There's no source of light - sun or moon (21:23). It's not needed because the glory of God provides all the light that is needed. 
• There's no closing time (21:25). The gates are open eternally. 
• There's nothing profane (21:27). Sin has been banished once and for all. 

I can't tell you exactly what heaven is going to be like, but I can tell you this, everything that is wrong, evil, awful, hurtful and bad about life here on earth - it won't be there. God will. Jesus will. Those who believe in Jesus will be there - redeemed and transformed. But all the mess of this world will be gone.

I can't tell you exactly what heaven will be like, but it will be wonderful!

And so, we say with the Apostle John, "Come, Lord Jesus." Life can be hard, or it can be good, But come, Lord Jesus. When everything is coming up roses or when it's stinking like fertilizer, come, Lord Jesus. 

Someone once observed that there is something the first two chapters of the Bible have in common with the last two. No Satan. God made the world and he ends it his way. He wins. The end. 

With all the wickedness, confusion, terrorism, war, poverty, and suffering in the world, all of God's people, the redeemed of Christ, the saints set apart by his grace sigh and say as one, 

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Father, I thank you that Christ prepared a place for me in glory by his blood shed on the cross. I thank you that all the evil, grief and pain of this world will only last a time, but that your glory is eternal. 

Think and Pray

Are you longing for the coming of Christ, living each day preparing for heaven and investing in heavenly treasure?
What is it about heaven that is a blessing to you?
What is it about heaven that you still wonder about? 

"When the Books Open" December 30 Readings Revelation 20

Today's Reading - Revelation 20

Background

It will be the most glorious moment in human history when the great battle of evil is going on here on earth and suddenly Jesus breaks out in glory with heaven's armies trailing him and he strikes down the rebellious hordes with the sword coming out of his mouth. Then, he judges the world, binds Satan, and sets up his millennial kingdom. After that comes the final judgment and Satan's doom, along with the terrible moment of the Great White Throne when sinners are judged and sent to the Lake of Fire.

It is God's ultimate victory over sin and it is also a moment of sadness as many are sent to the horrible place of torment prepared for the devil and his fallen angels. 

Devotional - The Books Open

Why do people go to hell?

No one wants to talk about it or think about it, but when we arrive at Revelation 20:11-15, we can no longer pretend the final judgment does not exist. There is a Great White Throne and seated on it is the Judge of all the earth. Every man and woman who has ever lived and died is brought to stand before this throne and is judged.

Here is where my eschatological viewpoint comes in - I believe that the believing dead have already been raised prior to this and that all those who face this judgment are lost. It's not an issue that needs to be fought to the end, of course.

But the key is that we see hints as to how the final judgment of sinners is made. John describes two different sets of books being opened. In verse 12, it says, "the books were opened." This implies that the dead are judged according to their works, and that is something that no human being wants. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Every one of us who is judged according to the works we have done in this life will be found wanting.

The first set of books is opened and every man and woman standing before the throne of God stands guilty, without excuse. No one offers an appeal or justification. Guilty as charged.

But there is another book that is opened, mentioned in verse 12 as well, the "book of life." This has also been called the Lamb's book of life. In this book is written the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Why do people go to hell? Because their name is not written in that book! Because as sinners they have not repented of their sin and turned to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. John put it about as clearly as one could in his first epistle.

"He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life." (1 John 5:12)

Eternity is about Jesus. What did you do with him? There's not a single one of us who can stand when God opens the books and judges our lives. We are sinners. But those who have placed their faith in Jesus have a secure hope in heaven for all eternity, a hope for glory.

It is my guess that most of those who read this devotional "have the Son." You have repented of your sin and put your faith in him. If you haven't, do so now. But if your name is written in the book of life by the grace of God, by the blood of Christ, then give thanks today. Give thanks that your eternity does not depend on you but on Jesus Christ. Give thanks that Jesus paid with his blood so that your name could be written in the Book of Life. Give thanks that though your works could never earn righteousness, his was imputed to you.

Father, I thank you for your Son, our Savior. Because of him, I have hope for all eternity. I have life I didn't serve and a place in heaven I couldn't earn.  

Think and Pray

Is your name written in Book of Life? Do you "have the Son" - because you repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ? If not, turn to him now and give your life to Christ.

If you are "in the Book" give thanks that God saved you and give glory to him. You have heaven even though your sins deserved hell. Rejoice. 

"Fallen Is Babylon" December 29 Reading: Revelation 18-19

Today's Reading -  Revelation 18-19

Background

Babylon is a powerful word throughout the Bible, representing not just the powerful nation that arose to seek to dominate the world, but symbolically standing for everything in this world that unites in opposition to God. There is, in Revelation 17-18, a religious aspect to Babylon, a united religion without loyalty to God or to his Son. There is political Babylon, the uniting of the nations around humanistic power not in obedience to God. And there is an economic Babylon, a world system united in materialism and greed, seeking all this world has, exploiting others and oppressing them to get ahead.

And in a moment, God will bring it all crashing down. Boom! Make no mistake about it. God is in control. This world system is loyal to the enemy and opposes the rule of Christ, but it is doomed in that rebellion. You can oppose Christ but you cannot defeat him!

Few things are certain in life, but this is. Babylon will fall.

It will be the most glorious moment in human history when the great battle of evil is going on here on earth and suddenly Jesus breaks out in glory with heaven's armies trailing him and he strikes down the rebellious hordes with the sword coming out of his mouth. Then, he judges the world, binds Satan, and sets up his millennial kingdom. After that comes the final judgment and Satan's doom, along with the terrible moment of the Great White Throne when sinners are judged and sent to the Lake of Fire.

It is God's ultimate victory over sin and it is also a moment of sadness as many are sent to the horrible place of torment prepared for the devil and his fallen angels. 

Devotional - Fallen Is Babylon

Find 20 commentaries on the book of Revelation and you might find 2 dozen different explanations for  the identity of "Babylon the Great." The Roman empire was a historical favorite and so was the Roman Catholic church (still is). Some point the finger at the revived Roman Empire of the Tribulation period. In my younger years, many tried to find a way to fit America into the prophecies of the end times and some managed to make Revelation 18 apply to the good ole USA. But perhaps the best thing to do in a short (well, for me anyway) devotional is to just let Babylon represent what it often represents in Scripture - the sinful world system that stands in rebellion against God. It is an economic system that values financial gain over the true wealth of God's glory. It is a political system that seeks to establish human power and authority instead of yielding to God's. It is a religious system that turns to human truth, human rules, human rituals, human endeavors, and human merit instead of relying on the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ. Babylon. Since the Tower was built so many years ago to reach to heaven man has been seeking his own way, doing his own thing and walking in opposition to the will and way of God.

And one day that will all come crashing down. "Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the Great." When the time is right, when Jesus is ready, he will bring this rebellious world system crashing to the ground so that he can establish his kingdom and authority over this earth.

I have strong views about Revelation, but I am afraid that we have missed the overall message, the great truths of Revelation because we've gotten so bogged down in the minutiae - arguing over the identity of the Antichrist, or the timing of the end. The ultimate truth is that God wins. This wicked world and all its evil men cannot and will not stand against the awesome power of the great God who created it all and sent his Son to redeem a people for himself. Jesus always has been Lord. He is Lord today. And one day the entire earth will know it. He rose from the dead and one day he will be physically and visibly enthroned on this earth.

This is the absurdity of our lives. If I saw a burning home, I would not gather all my valuables and run into that house and deposit my precious things. I would certainly not lead my family into that home. I'd get anything of value out! And yet that is exactly what we are doing in the spiritual realm. This world and the system that runs it is doomed to destruction. Babylon will fall. But so often I invest all of my time, energy, enthusiasm, and passion into the things that will burn. I sacrifice the eternal for the temporal.

It is hard to figure all the details out, but it appears that God works by his sovereign hand in the future to sow discord between the Antichrist and Babylon (whatever specifically that means). God brings down Babylon by creating hostility within itself.

Maybe that should be our prayer as one year ends and another year begins.

Father, as one day you will bring discord in Babylon, give us a heart that cares more about your kingdom than this world. Drive a wedge between us and this world. May we be so heavenly minded that we can be of some earthly good. 

Think and Pray

Are you investing your life in Babylon or in heaven? 

"God's Awful Wrath" December 28 Reading: Revelation 16-17

Today's Reading - Revelation 16-17

Background

This is the end, the very end. Seals have been opened and trumpets have been blown, but now the final bowls of God's judgment will be poured out on the earth in chapter 16 and God'sfinal judgment on the sinful world economic and religious system will commence in chapter 17.

God has judged the world before - the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the Destruction of Jerusalem. But this is the final, cataclysmic judgment of God on this sinful world and it is awful and terrifying.

Devotional - God's Awful Judgment 

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a Living God.

Mankind has treated God with disdain, disrespect, and disregard since the Garden of Eden. He has loved us and worked to redeem us and draw us to himself, but we have rejected him and walked in sin. God can do no more than he has done to show his love but mankind continues to flaunt God's love and reject his grace.

But one day that will end. Humanity mistakes the mercy and forbearance of God as weakness, as if his slowness to impose judgment is a sign he is unwilling to do so. No, my friend, it is coming. A great tribulation is coming on earth when God will show this world that sin cannot and will not be tolerated! Bowls of God's judgment, described in Revelation 16, will be poured out on the earth and it will be destroyed. The economic and religious systems of this world, based on lies, on greed, on lust and on rebellion against him will come crashing down in an instant.

God is not to be treated lightly.

But remember this, as you ponder God's awesome, awful judgment on the world. As he pours out bowls of wrath on the earth and brings the world system to its knees, he is preparing the earth for his own reign of righteousness, peace, and glory. He is not judging the earth simply to destroy it, but to make it ready for the glory that lies ahead.

God's wrath always presages his glory. God poured out his wrath on Jesus so that he could display his glory in us, saving us by grace and making us fit for eternity with him. God will pour out his wrath on this earth to prepare the world for his millennial reign. He will finally pour out his wrath at the Great White Throne so that he can his redeemed can enjoy eternal rest unhindered by sin.

Even the wrath of God works his glory in this world.

Father, I thank you that your wrath against my sins was poured out on Christ. May we proclaim your love so that many may know Jesus and experience your glory, not your wrath. 

Think and Pray

Thank God for Jesus, who absorbed the wrath of God against you so that you could experience his glory!
Are you actively proclaiming the love of God to a world that faces his wrath?

"Embracing Evil" December 27 Readings: Revelation 13-15

Today's Reading - Revelation 13-15

Background

Chapter 13 then turns to the rise of two men who will spearhead the work of evil in the last days, men we know of as the Antichrist and the false prophet - here they are identified as the first and second beasts.

Since Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the Garden, the curse of sin has rested on the earth and on the sinners who dwell here. God has repeatedly warned that while he is patient and gracious, his wrath will come. In the ensuing chapters, the wrath of God falls at the end of time - fast and furious, shock and awe! The final seven bowls of God's wrath are poured out on the world and the end comes.

Devotional - Embracing Evil

There are many misconceptions about the spread of evil. We fictionalize the devil and his ways, casting him as a vile monster who attacks people and drags them to hell against their will. But that is, unfortunately, not what the Bible teaches. What we learn in scripture is leaves us without excuse.

Mike Bergman, a pastor in Missouri and one of my fellow-writers on SBC Voices, said this:

In Genesis, God gave us the world. We chose a tiny piece of fruit instead. In the future, God promises once again to give us the world. Each time we sin, we're saying to him: "No thanks, I'd rather have this tiny bite of fruit instead." Heirs of everything shouldn't sell it for a tiny bite of fruit that doesn't satisfy beyond the moment.

What a powerful statement. Hold onto that thought as we reflect on Revelation 13. In verse 1 we are introduced to a being of infinite evil that we call the Antichrist, or the Beast. He is empowered by Satan himself (verse 2) and is enabled by him to recover from some sort of fatal wound (the exact nature of this is much-debated). But what comes next, in verses 3 and 4, is what I'd like you to take notice of. 

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

We often labor under the idea that Satan gains power by forcing people to sin against their wills or that the Antichrist will rise to power by a coup and seize power by force. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Adam and Eve were deceived, but they chose the fruit of sin over the Paradise of God, and people have willfully chosen sin ever since. In this passage, the enemy of God rises to power as a hero. People worship him as their savior, their deliverer. He does not force his way to the throne, he is carried on the shoulders of the people - those he will later brutally oppress. 

That is the way of sin. We choose it - willfully, even gleefully. We like it. We want it. It is only after we have eaten the fruit that we realize what it will cost. It is only after we have embraced the evil that we realize what a cruel tyrant it is. Sin always takes us farther than we want to go, costs us more than we want to pay, and keeps us longer than we want to stay. 

Jesus is a loving Lord. He gives joy and peace to those who follow him. Why do we choose the measly fruit of sin when we can have the full blessing of God? Why do we embrace the ways of the enemy of God when the yoke of Jesus is easy and his burden is light? 

Father, I want what you have, not the false promises of the enemy. I thank you that you have freed me eternally from sin. Help me to walk daily in freedom from his lies. 

Think and Pray

Remember that sin is something you do, something you choose, not something you are a victim of. Thank God for his sin-defeating power and recommit your life to him. 

"Mysteries" December 26 Readings: Revelation 10-12

Today's Reading - Revelation 10-12

Background

Today's reading puts us in another gap between the sixth and seventh in a judgment series. The sixth trumpet has blown and judgments have destroyed half of the earth. At the end of chapter 9 the sinners of earth refuse to repent but in chapter 10 and 11 God shows his grace by sending another angel with a little scroll and the two witnesses, believed by many to be Moses and Elijah.

At the end of chapter 11, the seventh trumpet will blow and the final judgments of God will fall, after an interlude in which the work of the antichrist and false prophet are explored.

Revelation 12 is a spiritual history of the world, tracking Satan's fall from heaven and his pursuit of the people of God, Israel. 

Devotional - Mysteries

There are some things we just are not meant to know.

In Bible studies, I am often asked questions to which I have to give my most common answer. "I don't know and no one does." It doesn't help my sense of macho as a Bible teacher, I suppose, but the fact is that there is much in God's word I don't understand, will never understand, and probably am not meant to understand. We are called to trust a God we cannot fully figure out, one whose actions often boggle our minds.

Revelation is one of the most argued books of the Bible, the subject of debates between various millennial systems. And there are many who comb the pages of Revelation (and Daniel, and Ezekiel) looking for arcane details about this and that. There are some who seem to be able to look at every headline in the newspaper and relate it back to some prophetic detail in the pages of Revelation.

But Revelation 10:1-11 tells a story that reminds us that God has not revealed all his mysteries to us yet. A mighty angel appears with a small scroll and then seven thunders sound. John is about to write down the message delivered by the thunders when he is told by the angel to seal it up and keep it until the end.

God reveals himself to us and tells us all that we can understand of him, but that doesn't mean that we know all there is to know. Some aspects of God's character and his plan for the future are always going to remain a mystery. God means it to be that way.

That's where so many have gone wrong in their study of this book. It is about the glorious victory of Jesus over evil, not about details of the second coming. Yes, we learn a lot of those details in this book but the goal of the book is to teach us to trust the one who is driving the story, who is opening the seals and guiding the end of the world. The study of the end times isn't about details and charts and systems, it's about Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords who orders the details so that he stands supreme in the end.

So, as you read this book and encounter a million confusing and fascinating tidbits of information, remember that the key is to look for the one who ends it all for his glory not the details of the end. There are things that have been sealed that we will never understand until it is revealed.

Remember that this book is about Jesus.

Father, may we focus on your Son, not just the fascinating details of the end times. 

Think and Pray

When you study the end times, do you tend to get bogged down in a morbid fascination with the details,s or do you keep your eyes on Jesus, the Victor?

The Birth of Christ December 25 Readings: – Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1

Today's Reading - Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1

Background

Merry Christmas. Read the story of Christ today and enjoy your day with family. Remember to celebrate Jesus as you celebrate!

You can read the story as it appears or you can read it below in chronological order.

A Chronological Reading of the Christmas Story 

The Angel Appears to Mary  (Luke 1)

            26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 

            29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

            34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

            35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God."

            38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

            46 And Mary said:

            "My soul glorifies the Lord

            47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

            48 for he has been mindful

                        of the humble state of his servant.

            From now on all generations will call me blessed,

            49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me --

                        holy is his name.

            50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

                        from generation to generation.

The Angel Appears to Joseph (Matthew 1)

            18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

            20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

            22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us."

            24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Birth of Jesus (Luke 2)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

            4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Shepherds of Bethlehem  (Luke 2)

            8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

            13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

            14 "Glory to God in the highest,

                        and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

            15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

            16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The Magi Visit from the East (Matthew 2)

            1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

            3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

            6 "`But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

                        are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

            for out of you will come a ruler

                        who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

            7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

            9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory,the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side— he has revealed him.

"The Church's Biggest Failure" December 24 Readings: Revelation 6-9

Today's Reading -  Revelation 6-9

Background

In chapter 6, Jesus begins to open the seals on the judgment scroll and wrath of God is poured out on the world. There are significant issues at stake here, far more than we can discuss in this brief statement - issues that will be argued until Jesus actually returns and settles all the discussions. But there are several significant items that appear here.

The first four seals bring out the famous "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," and then we meet the 144,000 witnesses from the 12 tribes of Israel. Finally, the heavenly multitude from every tribe and language on earth is seen in the heavenly vision.

There is a pattern here. Jesus opens six of the seven seals, then there is an interlude in which God's grace is offered to sinful man and the hardness of the human heart is displayed. It is after this that the seventh seal is opened and it reveals seven trumpets which blow. The same pattern is followed between the sixth and seventh trumpets before that seventh trumpet reveals the final seven judgments, the bowls of God's wrath.

The second phase of God's program of judgment is initiated in chapter 8 - the seventh seal is opened revealing seven angels with seven trumpets. The judgments are increasingly harsh. The seals each destroyed 1/4 of that part of the earth they targeted. The trumpets bring judgment that destroys 1/3 of what is left. By my old-style math, I believe that would mean that about 1/2 of the world has been destroyed to this point.

God is cruel, you say?

I would argue that God is amazingly patient. He made this world for his glory and has put up with the sin of the world for thousands of years, giving mankind chance after chance to repent. He offered his only Son as the payment for sins and displayed his grace and mercy in unimaginable ways. How did we respond? Humanity has spit in God's face over and over again.

Finally, in God's sovereign time, the judgment falls. It is not fair to blame the judge for the sentence passed down on the criminal, is it? God has given humanity every chance and we've rejected him. Now, the hammer falls. Now humanity sees and feels the weight of God's wrath - and it is terrifying. Still, there is a chance to repent but few do. 

Devotional - The Church's Biggest Failure 

It has been in the heart of God since the beginning of time but it has seldom been in the heart of God's people. When God called Abram and chose him to bless his seed, he told him that he would bless him and make him a blessing. God's choice of Israel was not meant to be simply a blessing to them but so that God could use them as a channel of blessing to the world.

We look at the Early Church, the Jerusalem church, as an ideal of all that is good and right. But the fact is that they never had God's heart for the "the ends of the earth." They actually resisted the work of God every time the boundaries were pushed and Samaritans first, then later Gentiles, were saved and brought into the family of God. Even Peter had to have a vision from God before he'd go to share Christ with Cornelius. It took a massive persecution to move the Jerusalem church outside of their home city to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. It was the Antioch church that caught a vision of the heart of God to "make disciples of all nations." It was Barnabas and Saul who answered the call to go beyond the borders of the nation of Israel and go the "ends of the earth."

But God is relentless, determined that he will gather his people from all the earth. In spite of the reluctance of the church, God's power wins out and he accomplishes his purpose. Revelation 7:9 describes a "great multitude no one could number" standing before the throne of God. This is the church, the people of God, those redeemed by the blood of Christ. This is not a group of white Americans. It's not a Jewish group, to the consternation of some of the party of the Jews in the Early Church. It is a gathering of those from EVERY tribe, language, and people on earth.

God wins and the gospel goes out to everyone!

Unfortunately, the American church has not always been any better at this than the Jerusalem church was. We tend to confuse the purposes of the kingdom of God with good fortunes of the USA. It is still true that the segregated hour of the week in the USA is Sunday morning church hour, and that cannot be a blessing to the heart of God who sent his Son to redeem a people from every tribe and language on earth.

We must develop the heart of God for the nations. God's heart is for rich and poor, black white and every shade in between, powerful and inconsequential, male and female. The church of Jesus Christ must be about the things that are in the heart of God. We cannot live solely for our own comfort and happiness but must give ourselves that the world might know, that the rejected, the abused, the discriminated against, the dehumanized, the rejected - that they might know the amazing love of God in Jesus Christ.

That is the heart of God and that must be the heart of God's people.

Father, may my heart beat with your heart for the nations of the world and all its people. 

Think and Pray

Does your life give evidence of the heart of God for all nations or are you living in selfishness and focused on your own people, your own culture? 

"Worthy Is the Lamb" December 23 Readings: Revelation 4-5

Today's Reading - Revelation 4-5

Background

This is the beginning of the grand story of Revelation. Heaven opens and John is taken up, where a scroll appears on which is written all the judgments of God on the sinful world. No one is worthy to open the scroll and judge the world until the Lamb steps forward. Jesus by his death and resurrection earned the right to judge the world. The rest of the book is the unfolding of this plan of judgment and the glorious victory of Christ over the world.

Warning, the preacher goes a little long today!

Devotional - Worthy Is the Lamb

There are few passages more glorious, more majestic, than Revelation 4 and 5, in which true, heavenly worship is modeled. 

In chapter 4, John is transported to heaven in a vision, and he is allowed to see how things take place before God's glorious throne. He sees what we will see and experiences what we will experience one day when we are in the presence of God. 

First, John saw a throne in heaven, one Isaiah told us was high and exalted. Everyone and everything was focused toward it. We can only imagine the beauty and the glory of the heavenly throne room, though John tries to give us what information he can. But, in spite of all the beauty in the place, his focus was not on the throne or its beauty, but on the One seated on the throne. God is seated on the throne. He is not running for office or fighting to protect that throne. He is seated, at rest. His rule over the world is settled, his sovereignty is secure. He has no rival for his kingdom, for no one can challenge his power and authority. 

John noticed that there were other thrones in heaven, lesser thrones but awesome nonetheless, and these 24 thrones encircled the great throne. On these were seated twenty-four elders, who represent the redeemed of the ages, perhaps the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. In the world, they faced hardships and persecution, but in heaven, they are seated in places of honor and authority. They are clothed in white robes, sinless and righteous, having all their sins washed away, and they wear gold crowns on their heads, signifying that they have received all the rewards of their labor. They served faithfully on earth, many gave their very lives for the cause of Christ, and now they rule in heaven under the authority of the Great One on the great throne. 

John saw that lightning flashed from the throne, and peals of thunder rumbled through heaven.  Even those who are welcome in heaven cannot escape the fact that this is an awesome God, a God who inspires awe among his people and terror in his enemies.  Before the throne were seven burning torches, but this was no normal fire.  They were spiritual creatures, perhaps the Cherubim of the Old Testament, beings of light and glory.  Surrounding the throne is a sea of glass, shining like crystal. 

Around the throne, on each of its sides, he saw four living creatures with eyes in front and behind. One looked like a lion, another like an ox, the third looked human and the fourth like an eagle in flight. What do they signify? No one really knows, but perhaps they speak of God’s authority and power.  In Isaiah 6, they are called Seraphim. Two of their wings cover their eyes, two cover their feet and with two they fly. These are creatures more amazing that you could ever imagine, but they humble themselves in the presence of the Almighty. Day and night these creatures continue to speak words. 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

They never cease to speak these words of praise. Day and night, month after month, year after year they give honor and glory to the God of Heaven. They are the heavenly ministers of worship.  

Their ceaseless worship moves the 24 Elders, those who have experienced God's redemption, the heroes of the faith, to join in the praise. They know that they unworthy sinners made holy by the grace of God.  So they get off their thrones, their places of honor, and they fall down before the one seated on the Great White Throne. They remove their crowns and cast them on the floor before the throne. They know that the only reason they rule in heaven is because of the mercy and power of the Lord of Hosts. 

They express their worship in powerful words, focusing on God’s character and glory. 

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 

We are not worthy, you are worthy.  We should not receive glory, you should receive glory.  All of heaven gives glory to the Father, the greatest of the great, seated on the throne, high and exalted, glorious and powerful – the awesome King of kings.  It is my belief that one day each of us will mimic the actions of the 24 Elders.  Whatever crowns, whatever rewards we receive will be laid at the feet of the Father in heaven, in recognition of our total dependence on Him and His grace for all things, especially our successes here on earth. 

The Scroll and the Lamb

When chapter 5 opens, John sees something he has not seen before, a scroll in the hand of God, sealed with seven seals, containing the judgments of God on the sin of humanity. It is time, in the vision John was about to see, for the judgments of God to be poured out on earth.  A powerful angel inquired in a voice that all in heaven could hear, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

           

Everyone looked around, hoping one would step forward who was worthy to pour out God’s judgment on earth, but no one came forward.  No one was worthy to take the scroll.   John broke down in tears because there was no one in all of heaven worthy to pronounce and pour out God’s righteous judgment.  But one of the elders looked at him and told him not to weep.  There was one who was worthy.  

“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”  

That is when John saw him for the first time.  Between the throne and the four living creatures, among the 24 Elders, there he was.  A Lamb – the Lamb of God, looking as if he had been slain.  All of these glorious, heavenly creatures, awesome and powerful; yet the only one worthy to open the scroll of God was a crucified lamb, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the earth.  In that room were mighty angels, living creatures, Cherubim and Seraphim, and the greatest servants of God that history could offer, but none of them were worthy to take the scroll.  The only one worthy was a Lamb, the one who humbled himself and died for the sins of the world.  He stood before the throne and took the scroll.  He was the one, the one worthy to carry out the eternal plan of God.  As he had carried out God’s plan of redemption, now He would carry out the plan of judgment. 

The Elders, along with the four living creatures, fell down before the Lamb.  They presented him bowls, filled with the prayers of believers.  And then, heaven broke out in song.  It is interesting to note that it was only when the Crucified and Risen Lamb stepped forward that the song of heaven began.  The truest music is the music of the Cross.  The Elders, the redeemed, those whose place in heaven was purchased by the blood of that crucified Lamb; they sang this new song,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

As the angels had worshiped the character of God, the elders worshiped the work of redemption that had purchased their place in heaven. 

Suddenly, all of heaven joined the worship.  All the heavenly hosts surrounding the throne, and the living creatures and the elders and myriads of angels, thousands upon thousands of angels began this chant of praise to the Lamb.  The words thundered throughout heaven.  

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

All of creation joined the refrain.  Praise swelled not only from heaven but also from every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.  Every creature joined to praise the Lamb who was slain, saying 

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

This is how the world should be; every creature looking at the Creator giving praise; every redeemed heart thinking about the Lamb who brought redemption through his blood.  This is how life was meant to be.  Not the rat race of activity, materialism, and immorality that we live in.  This is creation was meant to live, and so the four living creatures said, “Amen.”  So be it. It is as it should be. 

And the Elders, the redeemed fell down before the one seated on the throne and the Lamb who now held the scroll of God, and they worshiped him.  Forever and forever their praise will swell.  One day, each of us, redeemed by the blood of Christ, will join that choir and sing,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of His glory.”  

 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.  The whole earth is full of His glory.” 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Lord, may I today, and every day, praise you as I one day will forever!

Think and Pray

Few passages move us to worship as this one does, pulling back the veil and giving us a glimpse of the worship of heaven. Take a few moments and worship with the songs of glory. 

"Sin's Progress" December 22 Readings: Revelation 2-3

Today's Reading - Revelation 2-3

Background

This is a tough one for me! I preached a series of sermons on these two chapters - 12 messages! Now I have to write 1 devotional that encapsulates what I taught in 12 sermons of 30 (okay 40 to 45) minutes each. 

These 7 churches form an arch starting to from Ephesus and appear in the order one might deliver the letters. John wrote them while exiled on Patmos, just southwest of Ephesus.  Efforts have been made through the years to see these letters as a prophetic history of the church but that stands on weak ground exegetically. They can be viewed as seven separate letters giving standards for churches, but there is also a definite progression in the churches that go bad. 

Two churches have nothing but good things said about them - Smyrna and Philadelphia. It is helpful to look at what Jesus commends about them. They are suffering churches, under the gun of intense persecution. The other five churches have a combination of good and bad. But from Ephesus to Laodicea, what is noticeable is that the good diminishes as the bad grows.

It is my theory that there is a progression in these churches. What happens in Ephesus if left unchecked causes the Pergamum problem which will lead to the Thyatira troubles. If not dealt with, that will cause the Sardis issue which will culminate in the Laodicean effect. Each builds on the other. Ephesus was a good church with a small but significant problem. Laodicea was a church with a huge problem and little good left in it. 

Devotional - Sin's Progress 

Did you love report card time? To be honest, I liked it more as a parent than as a child. I liked knowing how my kids were doing, what progress they were making. How do we know how our church is doing? In the modern American church, we have our standard - numbers! How big is your budget and are you making it? How many people attend? Have you built any buildings? How many have you baptized? Budgets - buildings - baptisms. But is that how God measures our effectiveness?

Seven churches in Asia Minor received a report card from Jesus Christ himself. He appeared to the Apostle John and had him write down a word. "Here's what I think of your church." Two churches had nothing but good said about them - A+ - while five of the churches had grades ranging from B to F. These five churches show us something about how evil progresses in our lives and in a church.

The problem in Ephesus seemed so minor. They'd "left their first love." Jesus was no longer occupying first place, was no longer their highest passion. They were still a doctrinally sound, hard-working, persevering church - you'd love to be a member of First Baptist, Ephesus! But it was anything but minor to Jesus. Of course, he wants to be first in our lives, but he also knew that when we lose our love for him, it opens the door to so many other things.

Next, after A+ Smyrna, came Pergamum. They were another good church, but they had begun to tolerate the presence of false teachers and false practices. As soon as our love for Jesus wanes we find ourselves tolerating those things we'd have never tolerated when Christ was our primary passion. The teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans were finding a foothold. Things were worse in Thyatira, one step down the road. They were no longer just tolerating the false teachers, they'd become dominated by them. When we tolerate sin it tends to take over and take charge. So, the lies that were creeping in at Pergamum were dominating Thyatira and only a remnant of truth was left.

False teaching saps the power of God from a church and leaves it empty. That's what was happening at Sardis. They were pretending to be something they were not, more concerning with appearing to be alive than with actual spiritual life. Does that seem like our churches? We spend time polishing the outside of the apple not caring that inside is rotten and decayed! We must seek Jesus in repentance and rebuild the inside.

All of this ends at lukewarm Laodicea. What does this mean? Nearby Hierapolis had a hot, mineral springs that had medicinal powers. Colossae, only a few miles away had cold, clean water to drink. But Laodicea had bad water. By the time water flowed from Hieropolis or Colosse it had lost its properties. This speaks of Christians who are neither effective in ministry or have a life-giving, refreshing ministry! In other words, when Jesus is kept outside the church (he's standing at the door of the church and knocking)  that church has no life-giving water - no healing hot water or refreshing cold water. Jesus wishes we were either hot or cold, but our lukewarm ineffectiveness - ministry done in the flesh without his power - is offensive to him.

We cannot afford to walk that walk. The good news is that no matter where we are in the process the solution is the same. Repent and return to a full passion for Christ. If we've wandered down the path of sin, the return might be more difficult, but the solution is the same. Repent and return.

The real solution is to daily keep the flame of passion for Jesus fanned high!

May our passion for you, Lord, burn brightly every day. May you never look at us or our church and say that we've left our first love, tolerated evil, that we are pretending to be alive, or that we are lukewarm and ineffective. 

Think and Pray

Which of these 7 churches is most like your life? Your church?
Using these "spiritual report cards" as guides, where are you in your walk and where is your church in its?