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 2.4-4.26 / Psalm 2

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Read: Genesis 2.4-4.26 / Psalm 2

Verse chosen for meditation: Genesis 3:22 (NIV): "And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”


Reflect

It's interesting how the story of creation unfolds. In the beginning, there was God who created, among other things, man and woman. Along the way, these created beings seek to be like God and even play God.


This happened not too long after the creation story began when the first woman was tempted to be like God. She desired to know everything that God knows. But before we start levelling blame against the woman, the man was party to it as well.


Relate

It is clear from the Old and New Testaments that God is not looking for a man or woman to be God although he has asked us to be holy as he is holy.  On the other hand, it is true that God is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely devoted to him, men and women after his own heart if you will. 


This follows the command in Deuteronomy 6: 5: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." As we love him, God wants us to know him as well. And as we know him, he expects us to love him more and more regardless of the circumstances. 


For this is the basis of our faith: To know him as the sovereign creator God. To know that he alone is omniscient and omnipotent. To know that we can fully trust him no matter what the situation is. That said, God does not want any of us to boast of ourselves whether it be our wisdom, strength or riches. He does not want us to bask in our own glory. He does not want us to work, think or live independently of him. 


In other words, he is not looking for another godlike figure in any of us other than the Son and Holy Spirit. For any worship of such godlike figures is idolatry. Even the worship of self is idolatry when we think of ourselves as God, or try to take his place. More subtle, perhaps, is our penchant for wanting to know the outcome of things. If it's possible, we want to know the future and what it holds for us. 


To that end, we would do whatever it takes to ensure the outcome that we desire. In doing so, we undermine the trust between us and God. As we are playing God, in actual fact. So, as we begin this new year, let God be who he should be. That is God. And let us be what he wants us to be. Not God. Neither to play God. But to know him and love him. 


Let us press on then to know God. Let us regard him as the true centre of our universe. Let us learn to trust him as we commit all our coming days and plans to him. And as we do all this, let us love him more and more. In order for this to really happen, our knowledge of him cannot remain superficial. It should get deeper and more intimate. It should be him that matters more in every aspect of our life. And there should also be more boasting about him in every sharing of our life experiences. 


For we are to know God, not be God.


Rest

Lord, may we let you be God. And may we stop playing God. May we also know you more in this new year. And as we do, may we love you more. So, we commit now all our days and plans to you, knowing that you are God. And loving you as God wholeheartedly.


Naville Chia



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