Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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Genesis 1:1 - 2:3; Psalm 1

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 READ: Genesis 1:1-2:3; Psalm 1

Verse chosen for meditation: 

Genesis 2:1-3 "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done in creation."

 

REFLECT

This passage explains why the sabbath is so important to the faith of God’s people that it is included as one of the ten commandments. God had completed creating the heavens and the earth and all that is in it in six days. So on the seventh day, God rested. But God did not only rest on the seventh day. He blessed it, declaring it a special day, a Holy Day. When God blesses something, it means that He bestows favour upon that day. The term ‘Holy’ indicates that something is dedicated to God. Hence the sabbath is a Day receiving special favour from God and dedicated to God. Rest is important to God. It acknowledges that work has been completed and it is time to step back to admire and to enjoy that which has been created. God is not a workaholic. He does not mindlessly or obsessively create. He creates to take pleasure in what He has created. He creates to enjoy His creation.

 

RELATE

The Sabbath is a day when God promises special blessings to His people. It is a day when we pause to admire and enjoy the work that God has done, and what others and we have done as well. We live in a society where we push ourselves to produce more, to learn more, to earn more. Few of us pause to enjoy the work that we have done, or even to appreciate the purpose of our work. And we are much the poorer for this. And life seems like an unending treadmill, or a hamster ball. We see no end to the striving. What might it do for us if we paused to rest and admire – to look back at the week and how God blessed the week? A good suggestion is to start the day in church, not as a ritual or an obligation, but to come to enjoy a time with God and other believers. Then have lunch with friends or family. And then take the afternoon to do something that you enjoy. And in the evening, spend an hour or so thinking over highlights of the week and thanking God for the many ways He has blessed you. Thank God for the kindness of others. And take pleasure in the work that you have done, whether in a conversation, or with your hands.

Taking a full day of Holy rest may seem too much of a waste of time. But try it. You may find that at the start of the new week, you have much more energy to face the challenges ahead and you are much better off than when you did not take a sabbath rest.

 

REST

Father, throughout each day and week, you have blessed us in so many ways. But we often do not even pause to notice what you have done. And so we remain anxious, unable to believe that you do intervene in our lives all the time, protecting, providing for, and comforting us. Help us to be still and know that you are our beloved and almighty Father. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.


Chiu Ming Li

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