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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Ecclesiastes 8

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Read: Ecclesiastes 8

Verses chosen for meditation

8:12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.


Reflect:

There are times when Ecclesiastes read like the lament of a King who does not know God. Yet, when we reach the second half of Ecclesiastes, we got to know that the Preacher was someone who not only know God but fear Him as well. 


This is made evident by Ecclesiastes 8:12-13, where the Preacher recognised that while the wicked can do all sorts of things and seems to get away with it, it is always better for the righteous. For the fear of God is the key to living well. Fearing God here means "to fear before him". It means to put God first. 


It means to consider the ways of God before anything is done or decisions made. It means to know that going with what God wants is fundamentally wise because He is the Creator. It means that while being evil seems to solicit no consequences (at times) while on earth; fearing God secures eternity.


Relate:

This passage in Ecclesiastes 8 reminded me of what is preached on TRAC Conference Sunday. Ps Shih Ming spoke of what constitutes a successful life: (1) Intimacy in our relationship with God (2) Personal encounter with God (3) Recurrent reality of what we can do to love God and others in His grace and power (4) Reproducing that successful living in others.  


Indeed, as we seek to fear the Lord, we acknowledge that we can only do anything good by His grace alone. We learn that living the successful life only comes with having God as the center of all segments of our life. We don't do all these overnight or even in a matter of months or years. 


We seek to fear God and make Him our priority one small step at a time. We start by meditating on His word, internalising them into our soul and put those words into action. Then, we can truly experience what is a well-lived life. And the amazing thing is that the well-lived life can be reproduced in others.


Rest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwc2d1Xt8gM


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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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