God is King

How we see God can change according to the situation we find ourselves in. We may view him as a loving Father, a comforting Friend, our Protector and Defender, our Rescuer, a demanding Ruler, or an awe-inspiring Presence. The Psalmist uses vivid language to describe God.

Though we may not fully understand what it is like to live under a king, we can understand the concept. During the time the Psalms were written, the king of the land was all-powerful. He made all the laws. He collected taxes. He decided a criminal’s fate. He commanded the army.

Yet, God is always described as the good King. It is only his enemies who need fear him. His loyal subjects had nothing to fear, even if they were in awe of his presence. God, as the good King, provides for his people. He is the light that shines across the land. His people are glad to be in his presence.

It is God’s enemies who shudder. It is the evil of this world that God destroys. Though the Psalmist states the earth cannot withstand him, it is only the evil that shrinks before him. His righteousness and glory will not allow evil in his presence. Therefore, all evil will be destroyed ahead of him.

God’s people will rejoice at his coming. We will rejoice as his justice is dispensed. We will fall to our knees in awe while his enemies will fall to their knees in fear and defeat. We will praise his name and bow as loyal subjects. His holiness will be overwhelming while also being comforting. He will reign forever.

I pray we all see God’s many facets. I pray we seek to serve him as loyal subjects. I pray each one of us praise his name and look forward to being in his overwhelming presence for eternity. See God’s many facets. See his holiness. Praise God. Bow to God. Look forward to eternity with God.

Psalm 97:1-2

The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; 

let the many coastlands be glad! 

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; 

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Understanding Scripture

Many people avoid Revelation, stating they cannot understand it. With its apocalyptic language, it can be challenging to grasp. Yet, if we break down the passages into smaller chunks, even as small as one or two or three words, we can gain at least a rudimentary understanding.

Today’s passage is near the end of the book. Let’s break it down a bit. First, Jesus states plainly it is He who sent His angel to John. Jesus is behind the entire message. He is either speaking or His messenger is speaking to John throughout the book. So, we can trust the message is true.

Second, the testimony given is for the churches. There is a specific section in which Jesus states it goes out to the seven churches of Asia, modern day Turkey. Yet, in each message to each church He states for the churches to listen, thereby widening the message for all churches, including every church today.

Third, Jesus states He is the root and descendant of David. We see in the Isaiah 11 and Romans 15 where Jesus is referred to as the root of Jesse, who was the father of David. This phrase points to the Jesus existing before Jesse and David. But Jesus also says He is the descendant of David, which the genealogies in Matthew and Luke point out. How can this be? This is another way of stating Jesus existed before time and will exist after time ends.

Finally, Jesus states He is the bright morning star. In other words, Jesus is the light of the world. His light shines unlike any other light. It not only provides light for our eyes to see but provides light or insight or understanding for our hearts and minds to see. His light is penetrating just as His Word is penetrating. His light reveals everything and dispels the darkness of this world.

I pray we all take time to read Scripture. I pray we slow down to study Scripture. I pray each one of us seek to understand God’s Word and apply it in our daily lives. Read Scripture. Study Scripture. Seek to understand Scripture. You can understand it. Apply it in your daily life. 

Revelation 22:16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Alpha and Omega

Do you long for certainty? Would you like to know everything will work out? Do you wish you knew someone you could count on all the time? Would you like to know you will be properly rewarded for your work? Do you there is someone who has been there from the beginning?

Certainty can be a challenge to acquire. Believing everything will work out can be hard. Having a friend or family member to count on can be allusive. Being rewarded for hard work may seem to never happen. Yet, there is someone who we can count on every single day.

Jesus will return one day. Yet, we do not know when that will be. Due to that uncertainty, we find it difficult to rely on the reward He will reward us with. Notice that He will reward us for the work we do. Believing in Him is one piece of the work, but it is not all of it. There is so much more work we can do, not the least of which is to pray for one another.

Jesus claims He is the Beginning and the End. He was there before time began. He was there when the world was created. He was there when each animal was created. He was there when the first people were created. Jesus will also be there when time comes to an end. He will continue to be with us for eternity. Jesus has given us many promises but none more important than we will be rewarded when this life is over, and He will be with us forever.

I pray we all trust Jesus will return. I pray we know He will reward us for the work we have done. I pray each one of us look forward to spending eternity with Jesus. Jesus will return. Jesus will reward us. He is Alpha and Omega. He is First and Last. He is Beginning and End.

Revelation 22:12-13 “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Obedience is Love

What is your first thought when you hear the word obedience? Do you think of a well trained dog? Do you think of well behaved children? Do you think of strictly following rules? Are you being obedient to God? How can you tell?

We may bristle a little when it comes to obedience. Our perspective may be that we are free thinking people and not a dog to be trained. Yet, we often wish that others were obedient to us, especially our children. We may view obedience as being subservient.

The truth of the matter is, obedience is subservient. Another nugget of truth is that we are all subservient to one master or another. It is not a question of being obedient, it is a question about who we are obedient to. We are either following the evil ways of the world or following the life-giving ways of God.

What causes us to be obedient? Love. If we love the world, we will follow the world’s behavior—selfishness, hatred, anger, prejudice, and being judgmental. If we love God, we will follow Jesus’ command to love one another and do everything based on that love. Love does not mesh well with the world. It stands out as completely different.

If we truly love Jesus, the Father, and are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will obey God’s commands every moment of every day. We will trust God in all situations, not allowing fear and anxiety to rule us. So, we have a choice. We can love God or love the world. Loving both is not an option.

I pray we all choose to love God. I pray we choose to trust God in every situation. I pray each one of us will allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and willingly be different from this world. Obey God’s commands. Follow God’s guidance. Show your love for God with obedience.

John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Peace of Jesus

Are you tired of always feeling anxious? Do you worry about almost everything? Do wish the chaos of the world would stop? Do want things to calm down? Does the busyness drain you? Are you tired of being tired? Would you love to have some peace?

The upheaval in our world can cause us great anxiety, fear, frustration, worry, and wear us out. We can be drained mentally, which causes physical draining. We may even become depressed. We can find ourselves in a hole from which we do not know how to get out.

But Jesus gives us peace. It is there for the taking. However, we often do not grasp it. We continue to look at the world around us and get caught up in it like nearly everyone else. Rare is the person who has the peace of Jesus. But those that have it stand out. We see them as the calm in the storm. They do not get rattled. They simply continue walking the path God has laid out for them.

How do we gain this peace? Trust. Belief. Faith. We must learn to trust God with everything. We must trust that God is in control, despite what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears. Rather than being caught up in the chaos, believe God will work it out for our good. When we add trust and belief, we get faith. The more we experience God, the deeper our faith. As our faith grows, peace comes with it. That is how Jesus gives us peace. So, trust and believe, growing your faith, and receive peace.

I pray we all choose to trust God. I pray we believe that God is in control. I pray each one of us experience God and receive the peace of Jesus, eliminating the effects of the world on us. Trust God. Believe God is in control. Experience God. Grow your faith. Refuse to conform to the world.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Share Wisdom

Do you wish people would listen to you? Do you want to share your knowledge and wisdom with others? How are you seeking to share your wisdom? Are you willing to change your means of communication? Are you willing to follow God’s way rather than your own?

As we grow older, we have a desire to share the wisdom we have accumulated over many years of life experiences. Unfortunately, we often try to force our wisdom on others. We may speak in ways that are not appealing to them. Therefore, they will not listen to what we are saying.

The Apostle Paul was a man of wisdom. Yet, he knew that wisdom was not his but God’s. While he was in Philippi, he went down to the river to find a place of prayer. He sat down with the handful of others who were with him. As he was speaking to them, Lydia overheard what he was saying and became interested. As she listened, God opened her heart.

Let’s understand what was happening. Paul was not speaking to Lydia. He was likely explaining his understanding of Jesus and how God was working in his life to his small group. He wasn’t being forceful. He sat and calmly talked about what God was doing. His message was intriguing, drawing Lydia in. So much so that her and her entire household was baptized that very day.

Just like Paul, we can share the wisdom God has granted us in a calm and intriguing manner. When we rely on God to help us express his wisdom, he will provide us with the words. This requires us to empty ourselves of ourselves and rely solely on God. Rather than being full of ourselves, we must be full of God. And in all of this, we must communicate and do everything with the love of Christ in us.

I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. I pray we seek to share God’s wisdom with others. I pray each one of us rely on God to provide us with the words rather than relying on ourselves. Seek God’s wisdom. Share God’s wisdom. Rely on God. Be filled with God. Do everything with the love of Christ.

Acts 16:14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.

Earnestly Seek

Do you wish there were times that God would speak plainly to you? Do you wish that God would tell you specifically what he wants you to do? Do you wish you could sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with him? Have you considered that God does communicate with you?

We often find ourselves wondering what God wants us to do, where he wants us to go, and how he will provide for us. It is natural for these questions to arise. Yet, these questions are often answered. It is a matter of whether we are paying attention and hearing those answers.

The Apostle Paul was a man of God. We can all agree he had a special relationship with God. He was called to take the gospel to the Gentiles, the Non-Jews. But Paul was also a human, just like the rest of us. His special abilities and insights were not due to his human abilities. They were gifts from God and his willingness to listen and his seeking God’s answers. Paul had given up on leaning on his own wisdom. He depended on God’s wisdom.

We, too, can depend on God’s wisdom. We can listen for God to speak to us. We can seek God’s answers. Our biggest hindrance is seeking to live by the world’s standards. God gave Paul a vision to go to Macedonia. God can also give us visions, if we are earnestly seeking his guidance. God spoke to Paul and can speak to us.

I have personally heard God speak to me. Not in a big booming voice, but in a normal, confident voice in my head. How do I know it was God? The message contradicted what I was thinking and feeling yet was a message that spoke of God working. The message will only come when we are earnestly seeking to do God’s will. The message will also come with a peace that goes beyond understanding.

I pray we all seek to know God’s will. I pray we seek to hear God’s voice. I pray each one of us earnestly desire to follow God’s guidance and experience him working in our lives. Seek God’s will. Listen for God’s voice. Earnestly desire to do God’s work. Experience God in your life.

Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Servant Requests

How often do you ask God for something? Do you ask him every day? Is it only when you are in dire need? Do you ask only for yourself, or do you include others in your request? Why do you ask God for his blessings? Is it because it is what you want? Or are you asking on God’s behalf as well?

There is nothing wrong with asking for blessings from God. In fact, Jesus tells us we are to ask. Yet, it is not about the asking but about the motive behind the asking. If we are asking out of selfish desires, we should not expect God to grant our request.

When Jesus tells us to ask, He also states that if we believe and are asking according to God’s will, our request will be granted. Knowing what God’s will is can be a challenge. Many people wonder what God’s will is. They seem to be befuddled by it. For them, it is like trying to grab hold of smoke coming off a burning log. They just can’t grasp it.

Even if we feel confused by God’s will, we can ask according to his will the majority of the time. How? By asking for what will make God known to those around us. We need to determine if our request is only for our benefit or will it help make God’s power and presence known to others. If our request, if granted, will show God to others, we are generally following God’s will. Therefore, carefully consider the motive behind your request and make them known to God with a servant’s heart.

I pray we all seek to know God’s will. I pray we make requests that will make God known to others. I pray each one of us carefully consider our requests and make them with a servant’s heart. Seek to know God’s will. Consider your requests. Make your requests with a servant’s heart.

Psalm 67:1-2

May God be gracious to us and bless us 

and make his face to shine upon us,   Selah

that your way may be known upon earth, 

your saving power among all nations.

Perfection is Coming

Are you tired of the news? Does it wear you down hearing about the evil people commit against one another? Are you weary of the foolishness you see people do? Do wish people would choose to do the right thing? Are you looking forward to a perfect eternity with God?

It seems all we hear is bad news. People committing crimes against one another. People pointing fingers at one another. People doing foolish things that harm themselves or others. We hear about people struggling with one thing or another. And it gets us down.

God has promised us a perfect eternity with him. There will be nothing bad. There will be no evil. Everyone will do the right thing. Everyone will love God and one another. Everything will be done based on that love. Everyone will worship God and care for one another. God will be in our midst. We will see him face-to-face.

Being in the presence of God will be awe inspiring. We will seek to please him in everything we do. Our love for him and one another will drive every action and every word we speak. There will be no more doubt but a confidence that God is ruling. There will be no more fear and sadness, only joy. There will be no more pain but healthy bodies and minds. Our spirits will be continually in sync with the Holy Spirit.

Living with fear, sadness, pain, evil in this world is difficult. There are days we simply want to give up. But we can hold on to the promise of God that there will come a day when everything will be perfect. We can trust in his promise. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us through the hardships of this life.

I pray we all trust in God’s promises. I pray we know eternity will be perfect. I pray each one of us will follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help us through the hardships of this life. Trust God’s promises. Know that perfection is coming. Know that eternal joy will be yours. Follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Revelation 22:3-4 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Continual Worship

Do you enjoy worship services? Do you enjoy walking into the church on Sunday morning? Does it feel as though you are walking into a holy place? Are your spirits immediately lifted? Do you prefer light over dark? Do you prefer day over night? Do you want to live in perpetual light?

Some church buildings are grand and awe inspiring, while others are plain. Yet, walking into any one of them can lift our spirits. It is not the accoutrements that make the place holy, it is the worship that takes place in it. It is the praises sung, the prayers offered, and the Scripture studied.

We may wonder if we will be in a perpetual worship service for eternity. First, we are told there will be no church building. God is the temple. Yes, we will worship him all day long. However, not in the form we do on Sunday mornings. As Jesus told the woman at the well, we will worship in spirit and truth. We will see him with our own eyes. We will no longer need to imagine what God may look like.

Additionally, there will only be day. There will be no night. Though this may be a strange concept for us, we will no longer live in the bodies we live in today. Why will there only be day? The Lamb of God will be our light. His radiance will shine throughout the new earth and the new Jerusalem. We will see His light and be in His presence, which will be just one reason for our continual worship as we live our lives with Him. God’s glory will shine all around us.

I pray we all seek to worship God in spirit and in truth. I pray we are in awe of God. I pray each one of us look forward to seeing his glory in person and living in his glory for all eternity. Worship God in spirit and truth. Be in awe of God. See his glory. Live in his glory.

Revelation 21:22-23 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.