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 7:1 - 8:16

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Read Jeremiah 7:1 - 8:16

Verse chosen for meditation: Jeremiah 7: 4 ESV: Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’


Reflect

What is deception?


Is the church safe from deception?


How does the Lord want us to worship him?


Relate

Jeremiah was the last of the pre - exilic prophets who served under five different kings, beginning with Josiah and ending with Zedekiah, during his forty years of ministry.


Among the five kings, Josiah was the only godly one who led the people in a great revival. Unfortunately, the reforms he initiated did not last very long. Soon after his death, they were forgotten by the people who quickly returned to their old pagan ways of worship, reminiscent of the times of his grandfather, Manasseh, arguably the most wicked king Judah ever had.


What was left is just a shell of a temple with a semblance of religion that's vaguely godly, or not at all. It was deception at the core and temple - like on the surface.


Christ would later say the same of the pharisees by calling them whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27,28). Otherwise, hypocrites. Society has yet another word for them: poseurs.


It's no secret knowledge that God hates deception as it masquerades as truth. While they can fool others, they can't deceive him. They will probably find it hard as well to fool those with acute discernment, but they will find easy preys among the guileless, the superstitious, and the worldly.


The church as a modern temple is no safe ground either from such deceptions. It's naive to think, therefore, that the church is a sacred place for the truth. Only the Word is truth.


Besides, saying that 'I go to church' doesn't say anything about our worship of God or our relationship with him. Just as when the people chanted 'This is the temple of the Lord' three times for emphasis, it still rang hollow and meant nothing to God at all. And when it means nothing to God, there is no worship.


I've come to realise that we're more ruled by nature than nurture. Our nature was, in fact, good until it was corrupted by sin. Even after we've been redeemed, we would always go back to our post - fall nature.


So, at the start of this brand new year, let us go back to the very beginning even as we look forward to what's in store for us. Let us go back to the beginning when there was no deception. To the beginning when our relationship with God was at its best. 


And we can do this with the help of the Word, the Spirit and most of all, Christ (Philippians 4:13). Let us not engage in adulterated worship. Let us not indulge in what's called 'fake love'.


Whatever it is, let us be real. Let us move towards holiness as we worship God in spirit and truth. Then only can we say in quietness and confidence: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8b). For the Lord God is the true past, the true present and the true future.


True worship and restoration take place when we lay our crowns (self and pride) before the throne and say: "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)


Rest


Lord, let us not forget who you are and who we are. May our worship of you be a true reflection of our relationship with you. Save our worship and relationship from corruption and falsehood. There is no amount of chanting or saying that we go to church or that we are the church will make up for it. So, teach us to worship you right.


Naville Chia


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Revelations 22:12-21

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