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

1 Chronicles 29

-

READ: 1 Chronicles 29


Focus Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:9


Then the people rejoiced, because they had given willingly. For, with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David, the king also rejoiced greatly.


REFLECT:


That’s a great picture when people are giving offerings for the construction of the temple. They’re rejoicing as they give, like there is joy in giving when that giving is done willingly. That people rejoiced because they had given willingly. For, with a whole heart they are offered freely to the Lord. You see the descriptions of giving here, freely giving out of the overflow of their whole hearts, and this kind of giving leads to great joy. David, the king also rejoiced greatly.


RELATE:


So we see in 1 Chronicles 29:9, a principle, a truth that we see all over the Bible that goes totally against the grain of the way we are wired to think in this world. We are naturally wired to think that joy is found in getting and having more. If we want to be happy, if we want to experience joy, then we need to get more stuff. Then we need to have more things. Even that joy is found in hoarding, in getting and having far more than we need or could ever need.


The Bible tells us repeatedly that joy is found not in having and hoarding but in sacrificing and giving generously. Not because we have to, but because we are willing to. Willingly, freely with a whole heart. As God has blessed us accordingly, even the possessions we have are to be shared for the good of others and for the glory of His name.


1 Chronicles 29:9 Reminds Us of the Spirit We Should Have When We Give


REST:


Oh, God, produce this kind of joy in our lives we pray. Help us to trust You that there is joy found in giving. Not in storing up more treasures on earth, but in storing up treasure in heaven. God, we pray even as we come soon to the end of another year, as we think about giving in our churches and giving to the work of the gospel around the world, help us to be willing and free in our giving. Help us to experience joy in doing so, God, for the building up of Your church. For the building up of Your body, Your bride. Help us to give willingly and freely with our whole hearts toward that end.


If Your People did this for the building of a temple in 1 Chronicles 29, how much more should we do this for the building of Your household? For the spread of your glory among the nations? God help us to give willingly and freely with our whole hearts toward that end. That men, women and children - millions of them who don’t know Your love in Jesus, would hear about Your love in Jesus.


God, we pray, help us to give freely and willingly with our whole hearts toward that end. God, we pray that You would produce this counter-cultural, otherworldly joy rejoicing in our hearts. We pray for this joy found in 1 Chronicles 29:9 over our lives, our families and our churches. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.


TAN TEE KHOON



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