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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Lamentations 2

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READ: Lamentations 2

REFLECT: 

At the beginning of this chapter you have a description of how the armies of Nebuchadnezzar utterly devastated the city. Jeremiah, however, does not attribute this destruction to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, but to the Lord. He looks behind the immediate circumstance to what God is doing. As you read through the chapter you can see how he points out that everything has been destroyed, nothing is left. There is nothing he can put his hand on that has been preserved because of the thorough judgment of God.

This is such a sobering chapter. It is filled with sorrow and suffering with the effects of sin on all kinds of people, including infants and babies crying out in misery and at the centre of the chapter, we read v.14.

The prophets - God's spokesmen, who are supposed to be proclaiming God’s word to the people, have seen for them false and deceptive visions. They have not exposed their iniquity to restore their fortunes, but have given them oracles that are false and misleading. In other words, the people who were supposed to be proclaiming the word of God to keep the people from this, to expose iniquity, to say this is wrong, they should turn and repent and trust in God - those same people were giving false and misleading pronouncements and visions to the people.

RELATE:

What a reminder, certainly for anyone who has the responsibility to teach the word, which in a broad sense, applies to all believers and not just a select group of people! We have the word of God given to us to convey it to others.

So let’s be faithful to spread it, to communicate God’s word, and not our own thoughts or our own ideas, but God’s word alone and the whole counsel of God; exposing iniquity in the process.  Let's be careful not to share what people’s itching ears wish to hear, which is what was happening in Jeremiah’s day and as a result, it led to all sorts of sorrow and suffering.

We need to first yearn for God's word in our lives as we desire to be faithful teachers, and communicators of His word. Next, we need to "rightly handle the word of truth" as Paul puts it to Timothy. Third, we need the boldness or courage to speak and embody the truth at all cost because God will sanctify His people with the word of truth as we become living examples of it.

REST:

God, help us to share with others truth from Your word, not our own thoughts, truth from Your word that lead others to life. I pray with others in the church whom You’ve given gifts of teaching or responsibilities of teaching to and You’ve put them in positions of teaching. God help them. Help me. Help us to faithfully proclaim Your word. God, expose iniquity in all of our lives through the proclamation of Your word.

Help us not to hold back from exposing iniquity, that fortunes may be restored, that people might live. God, help us to see that it’s good to expose iniquities according to Your word in order that grace, repentance and restoration might happen. Oh God, please help us to faithfully steward Your word in our lives and spread Your word in the world.

God we pray that You would help us to be obedient to Your word in making disciples of the nations however You lead us and we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

TAN TEE KHOON

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