Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 11

Day 11

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Stan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:7-13

Application: What Jesus says and does is final. There isn’t a power on earth or in heaven that can undo what He does. This is how the letter to Philadelphia begins, with Jesus reminding the readers of His holiness, truth, and power. This is the second letter with no condemnation in it, but only encouragement. Like the letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus’ followers are facing trials. Yet Jesus knows. And in comparison to the little power the church has on its own, the Lord declares His undefeatable power.

Another theme we see popping up again in this letter is the emphasis on patient endurance. Something many of us would rather not discuss. Much less consider praying for. Instead, many joke about not praying for patience because God will bring circumstances that provide the opportunity to learn it. None of us want to wait and develop patience. We live in an instant gratification culture. We aren’t used to waiting for much of anything. In the world of drive-thru food, instant microwave cooking, and free two day shipping, we don’t have too many occasions to cultivate an attitude of patient endurance. Yet, when we examine scripture, we find that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, a characteristic of love, and a sign of spiritual maturity.

Patient endurance is not only a virtue, it’s a sign of trusting God. Trusting that He is still in control. Trusting that He is good. Trusting that He is love. Trusting that He has a perfect will in each of our lives. Trusting His Word. Trusting His ultimate power. We may face challenges and difficulties, experience disappointments and hurts, but God will keep us under the shadow of His wing. He has opened the door to salvation and eternal life through His own blood, and no one can keep us out.

It is so hard to imagine what heaven will be like. There are many descriptions of heaven, but I don’t think there’s anything that comes close to actually describing what it will be like. However, the glimpses we’re given through scripture are enough to keep us focused on eternal things. We will be honored and repaid for hardships due to following Jesus. We will receive a crown. We will be a pillar in God’s new temple. We will have God’s name written on our being. We will be in the glorious presence of the one and only true and holy Lord forever.

So no matter what you’re facing today – whether financial hardships, difficulties on the job, family stress, illness, hard relationships, failures, lostness of loved ones, chronic pain, death, or other major losses, let Jesus’ words be a reminder that He’s always with us, He knows, and He still has the power to bring about our good and His glory. We are but a mist and our troubles, not matter how painful at the time, are light and momentary compared to the glories of heaven. Let us rejoice in who He is and what is to come!

Prayer: Almighty God, You alone are worthy of praise. You alone sit on the throne of creation and no one can defeat You. You alone hold the key to heaven and You alone open and shut doors in my life. Thank You for Your great love. For Your great promises and salvation. I hide under the shadow of Your wing in the midst of troubles of this life. Help me to keep my focus on You. To be compassionate and sincere, but not faltering in my faith. While it feels like I have so little power on this earth, I know that Your power is within me to endure as I follow You and proclaim Your name in all the earth. Show me how You desire me to bring glory to you today, where I am, as I am.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, turn my eyes to gaze upon Your holiness and truth.

In what ways have I not kept God’s Word or denied His name?

Jesus, Reveal to me those around me who don’t know You and prompt me to pray for their salvation.

How can I cultivate patient endurance?

How can I not only hold fast to what I have in my relationship with Jesus, but grow in it?

What area of sin, complacency, or comfort do I need to conquer by the power of Jesus’ blood?

Holy Father, thank you for loving me as I am and too much to leave me where I am.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 10

Day 10

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not spoiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:1-6

Application: Five out of the seven letters to the specific churches found at the beginning of Revelation begin with these words: “I know your works…” In previous letters, and in the next one, these words are followed by encouragement. In this and the last letter, however, these words are meant to cut straight to the heart of the readers. There is no comfort in being reminded that God knows everything when we are dead inside.

I cringe at the thought of taking these words too lightly. Of passing over them briefly without allowing God to use His Word to examine my heart. During the last nine weeks, there have been many opportunities for you and I to open ourselves before the Lord and have Him purge what needs to be excised and plant what needs to be nurtured. Yet, He is not done. There is no plateau in a relationship with God. There are always deeper issues to be dug into and higher places to go. This is such an opportunity.

Throughout many sermons I’ve listened to and discussions I’ve participated in, the question of how we do church and how it compares to the biblical model for the Church seems to continue to come up. People have various preferences and desires for worship style, location, programs, preaching style, and discipleship. We tend to base our opinions on our backgrounds, education, church experience, and perceived successes or failures. However, this scripture gives us a perfect opportunity to examine how we “do” church – both individually and corporately.

That a church can have a phenomenal reputation yet be dead to Kingdom works should raise an alarm in us. It is much easier to look upon other church bodies, other denominations, other people and point out how they are lacking in spiritual fruit and growth. It is much more difficult to turn our gaze inward and be willing to sacrifice any beloved church ministry or way of doing church. This is the very problem Jesus constantly pointed out in the Pharisees and Sadducees: they knew the scripture and followed the letter of the law while neglecting the heart of the law – to love God and people. They most likely had a reputation of being alive within the larger church, but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. They were dead inside.

Could it be that we are more like them than we’re comfortable considering? Could we be clinging to a way of doing church more than God’s vision for us being the church? Could we be pushing the Gospel aside to have great programs? Could we be failing to make disciples because we’re too focused on feeding ourselves? Could we be missing the leading of the Holy Spirit because we’re following rules and regulations according to human teachings? Could we be forgetting the ends of the earth because of being too comfortable at home? Could we be missing out on the best God has for us for the good that is before us?

Let us be a people who hears what the Lord is saying to us and stay alert to who He wants us to be.

Prayer: Oh, God! Wake me up! Strengthen me! Let You be my greatest love and the Gospel be my greatest mission. Make me uncomfortable. Reveal to me if I’m dead in my works. I forego any reputation I have with anyone other than You. Teach me to walk in Your ways of righteousness. Remind me that bringing glory to Your name by living a holy life and sharing Your salvation with others is why I am here. It doesn’t matter what that looks like. Make me who You desire me to be. Use the unique gifts, talents, and abilities You’ve given me to bring glory, honor, and praise to Your name. Thank You, Jesus for confessing my name before the Father. Let me respond to the worthiness You poured out on me by grace through faith by letting go of everything that doesn’t expand Your Kingdom.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

In what areas or ways have I placed too much importance or emphasis on my reputation in the world?

What works am I putting my efforts into might God be asking me to give up or alter?

Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, help me remember the grace I received and Gospel I heard through Your Word.

Where might my preferences and perceptions of how church is to be done be hindering the spread of the Gospel?

How can I be more focused on who God desires the church to be rather than what I think the church should do?

Lord God, I praise You for writing my name in the book of life.

Father, what are You saying that You want me to hear today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 9

Day 9

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: “The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 2:18-28

Application: I don’t know about you, but this passage seems to blur the lines between metaphor and literal prophesy. There is debate on what much in the letter from John to the churches means, and this section isn’t immune to that debate. Whether Jezebel is an actual woman in the church, or symbolic. What it means when it says the one who conquers will rule nations. What the morning star is the conquerors will receive. Instead of glossing over passages such as this one or diving too deep into trying to figure out the exact meaning behind each word, I think we are best served by examining it from the perspective of the two questions we broached from the beginning of this devotional:

          Who is God?

          How is God calling us to live?

These are two of the most important questions we can ask in reference to scripture.

First of all, I’d like to note once again Jesus starts off His message to this church with the phrase, “I know….” He knows! When you are loving someone without that love being returned, the Lord knows. When you are standing on your faith and your stance isn’t appreciated, He knows. When you are serving and no one seems to notice, He knows. When you endure hardships, trials, challenges, difficulties with patience, He knows. When you grow in your relationship with God and dedicate more time to God-glorifying works, He knows. You are never alone and you are never unrecognized for your devotion to the Lord.

This knowing of course also means that God sees our failures and faults. He sees if we tolerate sin in our lives, families, or church. He knows if we stand idly by as Satan corrupts members of the church or church teaching. He knows if we excuse, ignore, or try to explain away sin. In a culture where people seem to ignore, embrace, or harshly condemn sin, there seems to be a lack of bold speaking truth in love. This is the case often within the church as much as without. Sometimes, there is so much yelling at the lost world for being lost, saved sinners slipping back into sin are missed. Let it not be of us!

We don’t want to miss the glaring truth about God knowing our sin: He gives us time to repent! God’s desire is that we surrender our hearts to be gutted by Him. To turn from our sin and acceptance of it. To not withhold Him full access to search our minds and hearts and transform them by His mercy, grace, and power.

Let each of us be emboldened to love the Truth and love in truth as we speak the truth in love.

Prayer: Father God, search my heart and mind. Reveal to me any hidden sin. Any hidden fear. Any part of me I haven’t surrendered to You. Clean me from the inside and help me to see myself clearly through Your eyes. Reveal to me any sin in my home, my family, or my church that I have accepted or turned a blind eye to. Guide me in cleansing that sin from my life and how to confront others’ sin in truth and love. I praise You for Your goodness, love, grace, mercy, and limitless power. How great it is to think about absolute power controlled by absolute love! Holy, holy, holy, are You, Lord God Almighty. All praise and honor and glory go to You alone. May Your praise always be on my lips.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

What is God revealing that I need to repent of?

How can I most effectively praise God today?

Is there sin in my church I’ve been ignoring?

Lord, help me hold fast to You today.

How can I cultivate an ear to hear God more clearly?

God, thank You for sustaining me when I get weary and or feel unrecognized/ unappreciated.

Lord God Almighty, embolden and empower me to speak the truth in love.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 8

Day 8

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Revelation 2:8-17

Application: Again, the message to this church begins as the letter to the church in Smyrna did: the Lord knows. What a comfort it is to recognize that there isn’t anything out of the purview of God’s knowledge. Not one thing. There is no pain, no hardship, no circumstance that the Lord is unaware of. He knows what is going on in our nation, He knows what’s going on in our job. He knows what’s going on in our church. He knows what is happening in our families. He knows even the state of our hearts. How eye-opening is it that He knows when His people are living in the midst of Satan, and leaves them there?

This goes against what we tend to believe and pray for as God’s will. We want to be taken out of the difficult situation. We want God’s rescue and healing. While God does rescue and heal, He also works His will in and through us as we walk through trials. It is by walking through the fire as we cling to God that we are refined and our faith becomes stronger in us and used in a greater way for God’s Kingdom. None of us would choose to walk through the fires of trial, but when we do so holding fast to His name, His rescue and healing found on the other side is more rewarding than if He’d saved us from those trials. He is good all the time! Even when times aren’t good.

Then there are those times we, or someone we love, live with, worship with, work with, doesn’t hold fast to God’s name. And we tolerate it. As our culture has gradually moved away from God, many ungodly values, thoughts, and ideas have crept into the church. They were so subtle for so long that now they are becoming blatant and we are shocked. This is the teaching of Balaam that Jesus refers to in this letter. (The story of Balaam and Balak can be found in Numbers 22-25.) Balaam agreed to take money from King Balak to curse the Israelites, but each time he attempted to do so, God put blessings in his mouth. Since he wasn’t able to curse God’s people outright, he devised a plan of subtle deception where he used the Moabites to entice the Israelites to mix with them and take on their false gods and sinful behavior. While we don’t have the details of how the Israelites transitioned from faithfulness to idolatry, I imagine it was what we would call a “slow fade” today. One small compromise followed by another, and before they realized what they were doing, they were fully engulfed in pagan worship and sin. We are just as susceptible to these small compromises and overlooking the compromises of those around us. They sneak in through our music, TV watching choices, things we read, time management, busyness, and in so many other ways. God calls us instead to repent of any idols in our lives and conquer over sin through His Word and His power.

Prayer: Lord God, the living, sharp two-edged sword, thank You for Your mercy! You are always faithful even when we are not. Your mercies are new every morning. You are slow to anger. Call me to an uncompromising love of You and empower me to see and eliminate any idols I’ve allowed to creep into my life. Thank You that You know my circumstances. Remind me whenever I need it that it doesn’t matter where I live, not even in the midst of Satan’s throne, but You know and are with me. Sustain me with the Bread of Life. Keep my eyes fixed on You and on Your Kingdom to come. Refine my heart to love You will all of my being. I praise You, Lord, for You alone are King.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

How can I better let God’s Word act as a sword in my heart, discerning my thoughts and intentions and refining them?

How can I use where I live, where I work, where I learn, where I play, and where I worship to bring glory to God?

What trials or difficulties is God calling me to surrender to His refining fire?

Lord, open my eyes to any stumbling blocks that have been placed in my way on my journey of seeking You.

Are there any compromises I’ve made that are hindering my spiritual growth and witness?

Father, help me evaluate every experience, belief, and decision based on Your Word and Truth and not any other teaching.

What are You saying to me today, Lord? Help me to hear Your voice.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 7

Day 7

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: When we read a passage like this we may have several different reactions. One may be that we can’t relate because we are not being persecuted and threatened with death for our faith. Another may be a focus on our personal hard times of spiritual drought, difficult relationships, or financial struggles. Still a third may be that people who are religious but lack evidence of spiritual fruit or maturity come to mind. Maybe the changes of values in our country which have begun to impact the freedom to express our faith in public ways press forward in our thoughts. Possibly all of the above. However, this passage offers so much more.

First, this is one of two letters in Revelation to the churches that contains no rebuke. Given the state of the churches and the issues addressed in each individual letter, chances are if we’re not the church under great tribulation, God has a rebuke for us. What might that be?

Second, Jesus reminds His people in this letter that He is the beginning and end of everything. He knows everything about us – individually and as a church body. There is nothing that happens outside His sovereignty. Even persecution and financial poverty. He also reminds His people that when they have Him and seek His Kingdom, we are rich in the truest sense. We have wealth that cannot be stolen or destroyed. These believers were facing prison, and from what I’ve learned, when they were thrown in prison there was typically a ten day holding period before they were put to death. So their ten days of tribulation might have been starvation, beating, harassment to recant their faith. Then they would be put to death. But God reminds them (and us) that when we hold fast to our faith in Him, He grants us the crown of life – life eternal with Him. The greatest gift of all.

He also reminds us that the devil is the one behind the schemes of attacking Jesus followers. Whether it’s actual prison, emotional prison, feeling trapped by unhealthy relationships, or financial poverty, we are in more of a spiritual battle than a physical one. The same is true when we experience other personal or corporate trials as a church. While our arguments, loss of trust, anger, and disappointments may produce real feelings bread out of real circumstances created by real people, it is all rooted in spiritual battle. We do not war with flesh and blood, but the principalities of this world. Therefore, the only way to wage war on evil, sin, broken relationships, disunity, doubt, depression, or discouragement is to fix our focus on the One who is the First and the Last and all the promises in Him, which are “yes and amen.”

  

Prayer: Jesus, You are holy, righteous, and truly good. You are the first and the last, the beginning, the end, and everything in between. Let me never forget that You conquered death and through faith, You have gifted me to not only conquer over eternal death, but also the small deaths that seem to come as part of this world. There is nothing You don’t see. There is nothing for me to fear because anything I experience in this life is temporary. I praise You for Your gift of life and sovereignty in it. Let me never focus on my trials, tribulations, or trying relationships, but help me keep my eyes fixed on You. You know all. Help me never to forget that.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

How can I keep my focus on Jesus and giving Him the praise He deserves each and every day?

Lord, help me never forget that You know. You know my pain, my trials, my struggles, my sin, my heart. Reveal and let me hear clearly what You want me to know about You, about myself, and about others.

Fear is rooted in a lack of complete faith and trust in the Lord. Is there an area of fear in my life that I haven’t surrendered to God and His sovereignty?

Jesus, when I suffer, help me to hold fast to my faith in You. Grow me. Mold me. Make me more like You.

How can I keep the crown of life Jesus will give me more clear in my mind than my current circumstances?

Father God, let me hear what You are saying to the churches, to my home church.

Nothing is more important than living for God’s glory. How can I live to bring Him more glory today?

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 6

Day 6

Scripture focus: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: God knows. And He sees. This is great encouragement! Often we labor in our faith and feel like no one recognizes our effort. Most of life isn’t made up of the great events or works that are seen by others, but in the daily “hard work and…patient endurance.” No human sees when we get up early to spend time with God. Often no person sees when we sacrifice time or money or pleasure to feed into someone else’s life. Going to work and completing our tasks with excellence usually is expected and not praised. There’s seldom reward for cooking meals, mowing the lawn, washing clothes, cleaning house, changing the oil, changing a diaper. These are tasks that make up the dailyness of life and we do because they need to be done. However, God sees it all and knows the things we do. He sees us volunteer in the nursery. He knows when we get to church early to greet people. He observes us when we meet with and encourage another believer who is struggling. He is watching when we gather in small groups to pray over and discuss decisions for our faith family. He is not absent when we make a pot of coffee, sweep a floor, or give a hug. God knows all the ways we serve people. When we refuse to compromise His standards for the world’s values. When we hold fast to His truth in a corrupt and capitulating culture. None of this escapes His notice.

Neither does our motivation and heart for our works. It is easy to get wrapped up in our life routines of work, school, parenting, grandparenting, running around, and serving and lose our love for God and people. We slip into a mode of survival instead of victorious living. We fall out of loving God and others with a passionate love. A love that comes first and foremost and serves as the impetus for the things we do. Have we, have I, forgotten to love God as I did at first? You know what a “love at first” is like: passionate, joyful, willing, energizing, enthusiastic, all-encompassing. When we first recognize God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we are compelled and excited to love Him back, spend time with Him, share His love with others, and are empowered to love them well. As time moves on and the everydayness of life creeps in, it can crowd out and dampen the flames of our love for God and others. Yet, we are still working. In our own strength. According to our own ideas. For our own purposes.

But God.

He desires our hearts. Our love. Our complete devotion to Him, reliance on His strength, surrender to His ways, and focus on His purposes. And out of that love and devotion the fruit His Spirit will then blossom and feed our everyday labors.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the reminder that You see. You see my works. You see when I don’t give up. You see when I stand up for You. You see how I labor when no one else does. You know my heart. Thank You that Your steadfast love endures forever and that You continually call me to love You first. Show me where my love has waned. Reveal to me where my works and labors have thrown water on the fire of my love for You. Continue to call me to spend time with You, to dwell in You, abide in You. Shower me with Your love so I can in return love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, body, and spirit. Overflow my heart with Your love in order to enable me to love others around me well. To love them in such a way that’s best for them: for their good and Your glory. Give me ears to hear Your Holy Spirit and understand. I praise You for the victory You give in this life and the fruit of eternal life You have prepared for me in the next. To Your name be all honor and praise and glory. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, help me to remember that You see and know all and that my works and labors are to be done unto You.

Am I examining the claims made by all who call themselves Christians and evaluating them based on God’s Word?

Have I fallen from loving God first with a first kind of love?

Of what is God calling me to repent?

Jesus, never let me forget that You command an army of angels and walk amongst Your church. You are here with us and have unfathomable power!

What are the “works” the Lord wants me to do? What are some “works” that He may be calling me to lay down or let go?

Almighty God, thank You for preparing my heart to hear Your Spirit. Prepare it every day and help me to have understanding of Your Word.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 5

Day 5

Scripture focus: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 1;17-20

Application: These next few verses transition us from John describing what he saw when Jesus appeared to him to Jesus describing Himself. Before the transition, however, we see John’s response: he fell as though dead. This seems to be a reflex, an automatic, uncontrollable response to being in the presence of the Lord or any representation of Him (including angels reflecting His glory) throughout scripture. When humans are in the presence of God’s holiness we can’t help but to fall prostrate. Our great sinfulness comes into full clarity when compared to His righteousness.

But the Lord is merciful. I love that Jesus reaches out and touches John, as He did often to people when He walked the earth. At the same time His righteousness reveals our sinfulness, His mercy covers the sins of those who worship Him.

After imparting His physical hand and mercy on John, Jesus declares he is (and we are) not to fear. We have no reason to fear because Jesus is living, has always lived (is the first) and will always live (is the last). He conquered death! Sometimes this is so commonplace a concept in the Christian community, we lose the wonder of this truth. Death has no power compared to God. He conquers that which no human being has ever conquered. Physical death is certain for each one of us, no matter how we try to delay and deny it. But Jesus conquered physical death and offers us escape from eternal death. He holds the keys to death and hell. He is the key to heaven. This is why we have nothing to fear!

Prayer: Jesus, the first and last, the Living One, the One who conquered death and holds the keys to death and hell, I praise You. Keep reminding me who You are when I get distracted by the material possessions, decisions, relationships, hurts, and desires of this world. You and Your Kingdom matter more than these temporal things, yet they pull at me constantly. Give me a fresh vision of You every day to help me make choices and treat others in ways that honor and glorify You. Thank You for walking among the churches of this world as they are a part of Your church. Thank You that Your grace and mercy are always available to those who turn to You. Help me to remember that the people I worship with on Sunday mornings are Your imperfect, but forgiven children too. Most of them. Remind me that they may not all know You. Keep me so focused on You that I will help draw those who don’t know You into a relationship with You and those who do will be drawn into deeper knowledge of Your great and mighty love. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Lord, help me see You with refreshed awe at who You are.

Why can I be free from fear in this life?

What does it mean that Jesus holds the keys to death and hell?

Holy God, remind me of how much grace You’ve poured out on me and show me where I haven’t poured out grace on others. Help me to stand on Your truth and exhibit grace to those in my life.

How can I be more aware of the truth of constant spiritual warfare around me and remember the presence of Your angels among us?

How can I better remember that Jesus walks among His churches and everything we do as a faith family should be to advance His Kingdom by making disciples?

Jesus, when I hurt, when I fear, when I doubt, when I’m discouraged, when I’m lonely, when I’m desperate, remind me that You died but now live forevermore and give me abundant life here in You and eternal life forever with You.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 4

Day 4

Scripture focus: Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:12-16

This is one of the most fascinating descriptions of Jesus given in scripture. We generally think of Him looking as a young man, flawless, strong, and with loving eyes, as we’ve seen in pictorial representations. I think there’s a good reason we don’t know exactly what Jesus looked like when He walked this earth and wore human skin for just over three decades. His human face did not define Him. I often wonder, because of prophetic descriptions of the Christ, if He wasn’t the complete opposite of what we might call handsome. I imagine He was unassuming, someone who’d be overlooked without the miracles and great wisdom that attracted people to Him. What that looked like in details though, we’ll never know.

Then we get this amazing, awe-inspiring description of the resurrected, powerful, holy Christ. Much of the description seems symbolic, and it all fits in various messages Jesus sends to the churches, but I think the physical descriptions were actual. I try to picture it in my head, and fall short. I looked up artists’ renditions of their translating these elements, and they all too fell short. Because we cannot imagine Jesus in all His glory and power and dominion. It is too much for us.

Yet, He gives John this glimpse to pass on to us. A glimpse that is hard for us to imagine, but yet gives great insight to the victorious Jesus who is coming to judge. I think of His white hair. In our culture age is not revered and correlated with wisdom, but I imagine Jesus’ white hair represents his wisdom. And His holiness. White is often used in scripture to talk about how His sacrificial death washes us white as snow – just like His hair is described here. I consider His voice like the roar of many waters. A sound that reverberates and supersedes anything else. It filled the whole space and washed away any other sound, yet John was able to understand Jesus’ words clearly.

There is so much in this short section of verses! I hope you take time this week to meditate on this image Jesus presents of Himself and God blesses you with a greater understanding of Him.

Prayer: Holy, Almighty Lord, when You speak, let me turn toward Your voice to get a clearer picture of You. Help me to remember You have all wisdom and offer to give me wisdom for my life freely if I ask. Give me wisdom, Lord, for the big and small choices I face! You alone can hold all the stars, all people, all planets, and the very breath in my lungs. The sun You created is too much for me to look at, yet Your brilliance and light far out pass the sun I can see. Thank You for Your Word, grace, mercy, perfect love, and redemption of my life. Thank You for being the light to show me the next step, then the next, and the next. Amen.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

Do I see Jesus as He presents Himself in all of scripture, or do I see Him as He’s been presented by others’ or my own ideas?

Do I seek wisdom from other people or experts first, rather than from God first and foremost?

God, help me to remember You are passionate for me and You desire that my desires be for You and Your Kingdom.

Do I see Jesus as the light that directs my steps in this life and the light that is the Way to eternal life?

Jesus, speak to me with a roar that will drown out all the distractions, deceptions, and discouragements I face in this life.

How can I open my heart and mind to God for Him to divide the marrow and bone of who I am with His Word?

God, You are all-powerful. Help me to not just give mental assent to this truth about You, but live according to this truth.