Revelations 22:12-21

-
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...
Post a Comment

Judges 20-21; Psalm 147 “Break glass in case of emergency”

-

Read: Judges 20-21; Psalm 147


Verses chosen for meditation: Judges 20:27-28   "27 And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,  28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."


Reflect: 


It had been a long time since the people inquired of the Lord. If not for the horrific sending of a piece of the concubine to each tribe of Israel; the people would have continued to live in their own dark worlds. Indeed, it was days of great wickedness, violence and lawlessness. 


Notice that the Levite did not even speak of the whole truth and we are not even sure if the concubine was dead before the “priest” chopped her up. The Levite was as wicked as the people who violated the concubine. He did not even bother to care for the concubine as she returned; knowing full well what she would have been through. 


Yes, if not for the nightmarish occurrence, the people of Israel would have continued to “enjoy” the "freedom". The freedom of doing things which seemed right in their own eyes. For the very first time since this generation inherited the Promised Land; they went to the ark to inquire of God. This goes to show that the people were not totally clueless of who God is. They just could not be bothered when life seemed so good. When it seemed that they could just be their own king.


Even then, God was merciful and steadfast in His love for Israel. Their inquiry was immediately met by the response of God. God’s love and mercy for Israel cannot be overstated here. Imagine a long-lost friend who betrayed you. After ten years, he called you in the middle of the night; and you responded without a bit of a hesitation. You even gave advice on his personal crisis and tried to help. Such a response can only spring from a great heart of love and generosity. Despite Israel’s continuous betrayal of Yahweh; His love for them remained faithful. Despite treating God as a "break glass" when there is an emergency; God remained present in their lives. 


So, it is rather tragic to know in chapter 21, that as soon as the people of Israel resolved the emergency; they went back to their old ways. The decided for themselves on how to deal with the tribe of Benjamin through very unethical and immoral ways. That was why the book of Judges closes with the common refrain: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”


Relate: 


It does not matter if the ark of the covenant was so near to the people of Israel. If the people had no love for the Lord; they did not see a reason to have that relationship. 


Sometimes we are like the people of Israel. It does not matter if we have all the resources in the world to help us get close to God. If we do not have love for Him in the first place; we will not go near. We might go near occasionally when crisis struck; but we stay far away as soon as the crisis was resolved. When we always try to do what is right in our own eyes; our heart stays far away from God. We will always treat God as "break glass in case of emergency".


So going strong on the journey of faith is really a matter of the heart. No point accumulating for ourselves all the different types of the translations of the Bible; if we are not going to read them. Or we do read them; but we do not allow the word to have any authority over our lives.


Not really helpful going to church either every Sunday; if we are just there to pacify our conscience. Not useful for our own well-being going for smaller group meetings either, if we are just there to enjoy the fellowship. 


The end point of all these meetings; either individual, group or congregational; is to seek God and allow ourselves to grow in His likeness. Otherwise, sooner or later, we will follow the footsteps of the people of Israel: “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”. Our love for God is not an overnight anointing. It has to grow with patience, perseverance and humility. If we always see ourselves as the master of our destiny. Then deep down, we know that we do not love God or need Him at all. 


Rest


Lord God, thank you for your example of faithfulness and love for us. Help us not to take all these for granted and give us the grace to get serious with the gift of salvation that you have given through the life of Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to grow in our love for You. This we pray in Jesus Name. Amen. 


Jason


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Revelations 22:12-21

-
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...
Read more

Revelations 15-16 “A Time of Grace Before the Full Wrath of God”

-
READ : Revelations 15-16 Verses chosen for meditation: Revelations 15:1 15  Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. REFLECT This chapter marks the beginning of the “bowl” plagues, and though it is the “last” of the sequence of visions given to John (after seals and trumpets), it does not mean it would happen chronologically that way. In what order it happens, we are not sure, but all three fulfil the wrath of God. After the three terrible signs happen, “the wrath of God is finished” (v1). When Jesus died on the cross, he fulfilled the wrath of God to bring salvation to the world. After a time of grace since Jesus’ death, the seals, trumpets and bowls must happen to fulfil the wrath of God on those continuing their evil, unrepentant ways despite the Gospel. These three signs are judgement of human sin after Jesus’ death. As the visions contin...
Read more

1 Timothy 2

-
Read 1 Timothy 2 Verses chosen for meditation: 1 Timothy 2: 1-4, 8, 9-10 ESV: 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;  9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Reflect What do you think form the focus and format of a worship service? Why is prayer important in a worship service? What are some of the things to be observed in the areas of propr...
Read more