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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Jeremiah 23-24 “Responding to Hardships”

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READ: Jeremiah 23-24  


Verses chosen for meditation: Jeremiah 24:3-7


3 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”


4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.


REFLECT

Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, and ten thousand citizens of Judah went into exile in Babylon. God, during this time, showed Jeremiah two baskets, one with “very good figs” and one with “very bad figs”, that they could not be eaten. It was revealed that the good figs represented the exiles in this first deportation. The bad figs represented those who “survived” the first deportation and remained behind.


It’s easy for the “survivors”, being in safety, to think that the exiles taken away were the more corrupt ones. After all, God is exercising judgement by ejecting them, right? Yet, God’s message overturned this popular assumption. Those remaining behind had a darker future and this prophecy came to pass, when they faced the full force of Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath, which Jeremiah had been predicting for years.


The exiles, instead, will form the community of God’s future, by God’s choice and grace, with God enabling them even in their suffering. Among these exiles was Ezekiel, whom God would call to be His prophet among the exiles 5 years later. Though God said, “Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah”, we should not misunderstand that these people had moral approval from God, and deserved a better future. Afterall, they were the same people that God had earlier condemned. Rather, God had plans for them which are good, and would enable them for good.


RELATE

The good and bag figs represent two different results from the same ordeal. Everyone would eventually be exiled (those who remained would also be exiled later). However, some would profit from the ordeal, while others choose to be bitter, becoming rotten. God enabled the first exiles to respond well, and he used that response to grow them. This tells us a lot about the cruciality of our response to suffering and God’s use of that response. V6-7 shows some characteristics of a good response.


1) A positive mindset, believing that good can come out of the suffering: “I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down” (v6).


2) A teachable heart: “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord” (v7).


3) A greater obedience: “for they shall return to me with their whole heart” (v7). The suffering would not separate them from God, but instead bring them closer to God.


This reminds of my time as a teacher, observing how students respond to life’s tests. It’s true that those with trying circumstances, like being poor and from broken families, require more support (including patience, understanding and grace from teachers). However, a huge factor on whether a student comes good depends largely on their own attitude and response towards their circumstances.


Most times, circumstances can’t be changed. What can change are mindsets. Some never realise this, remaining bitter and rebellious, using their circumstances as justifications for misbehaviour. They become almost impossible to work with, like the bad figs. Yet, I’m inspired by some as well, who rose above their circumstances, making something good of their suffering, developing unwavering spirits and grew to be people of great characters. These students typify some of the characteristics listed above.  


This good attitude of heart, even in suffering, is what God does not give up on, unlike with the bad figs (Jeremiah 24:8). The bad figs remained stiff-necked and unrepentant through their ordeal, making it hard for God to work with them. Respond well, and He will make use of that to mould us into His likeness.


REST

The Potter’s Hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXL3y9RIbI


Chris Chong

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