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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Zephaniah 2-3 "He will do it"

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Read: Zephaniah 2-3

Verses chosen for reflection: Zephaniah 3:17-18

The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

Reflect

Notice the number of "who will", "he will" and "I will" in these few verses? God was emphasising the truth that He alone, will be the One to lift up Israel where she had fallen greatly. God will be the one to comfort and encourage Israel like a mother would. God will be the One to gather His children so that in that Day, we will no longer suffer reproach from our enemies, death and sin. 

Why will God do all these for Israel and also for us? This question can be answered in verse 17: "The Lord your God is in our midst". This means to say that right from the very beginning and even up to the point when Israel began to sin widely; God was still in their midst. Like a loving Father who sometimes chose to watch at a corner as that was the best thing to do; God had never really left Israel. God's love, mercy and promise to keep His side of the covenant, propelled His initiative to ensure that the prodigal has what it takes, to return home.


Relate

Parents among us, there might be times when we were so angry with our children that we have spoken things like "I will not be bothered with you again" or maybe "you can leave the house if you choose". 

Yet, after a period of time, we regretted what we said. We never wanted them to leave us for good. We want to care and protect them until the day we die. No matter what wrong they had done. After all, they they are our children. We love them and have the responsibility to teach them the way of the Lord. 

God views us the same way and much more. We are His children and no matter what we did, He gives opportunities for us to repent. Just like how He forewarned Israel many times, God also gives us warning and His word when we fall. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us in HIs righteousness. Unless of course, we choose to run away from God or cut that relationship with Him; just like how tragically, some children in this world chose to do so with their earthly parents. 

God had given His promise that He will be with us till the end. No matter who we are. No matter where we come from. We can definitely hold on to His promise. While it is not a licence for us to sin and simply do anything we want to; it is an encouragement for us to have confidence not in our own strength; but in the grace of God to bring us through the most challenging times of our life. Just so long as we avoid the pride and stubbornness of Israel but to journey with God in humility. Just so long we acknowledge that by ourselves, we can never get into His kingdom, but to live by His mercy and be filled in the Spirit to live our lives in glorification of His Name. 


Rest

Lord, remind us always of how much You love us. We can never fully understand such a divine love but allow us, to surrender ourselves to how you want to shape, mould us and giving us the joy and freedom to live the true life, on a daily basis. This we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen. 


Jason
 




 




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