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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John 14-15 "only one way ah?"

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Read: John 14-15

Verses chosen for reflection:

John 14:1-7

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”


Reflect

John 14 comes after Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and declared that one of the disciples would betray Him. During the Last Supper, Jesus also disclosed on the way that He would be taken away from them. Hence, Jesus assured the disciples that "let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me". 


Through the Gospels, this was probably Jesus' most comforting words to the disciples. At that point in time, the disciples might not find great comfort in Jesus' words; but they soon realised how those words strengthened them when Jesus was crucified and also how they were persecuted when fleeing from the authorities for their faith.


Question is, why would the disciples believe Jesus just because He asked them to? Because Jesus' words are backed by His deeds. The disciples knew that when Jesus was on earth, He never lied to them. He performed many miracles in love for the people and also to point them to Himself so that they might be saved. He went against the powers of the day not because He was a rebel at heart; but because He claimed to know what the truth is. And very importantly, they came to witness His glory when He was resurrected from the dead. 


Hence the way to salvation is to believe not only in the "namesake" of Jesus; but also who He stands for in revelation of who God is. Jesus declared that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the only way for anyone to go to the Father is through Jesus. This means that our believing of God embraces not just a name; but the entire follower-ship of Jesus' way of life and His teachings when He was on earth. Only by being in faith and perseverance of these, can we, in the last days, be taken by Christ to the Father's house. 


Relate

Yes, we all struggle to follow Jesus and that is normal. What is important to know is that our Christian life is always a journey until the day Jesus comes back again. Hence, while we do not want to be too legalistic on ourselves and others; we want to also ensure, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to stay on the right path. This is so that when Jesus comes back again, we can be sure to be led into the Father's house.


The truth is that there is only one path that Jesus laid down for us. The path which reveals His way, truth and life. So not all paths lead to Christ no matter how "similar" a path seems to be to the teachings of Christ. If the path does not acknowledge that Christ is the only way for salvation, it is not the right one. Or if a path seems to misuse scripture for personal gain or greed, it is not the right one either. One good example would be those who preach what is now termed as the "prosperity Gospel". At its core, the prosperity Gospel is no Gospel at all. It does not carry the good news that Christ brings; but only charming messages and practices that feeds into the sinfulness of men.


So we must not be deceived. The word and life of Christ must come together. The truth, way and life of Christ is one of humility, service and sacrificial love. Let us help one another, to stay on the right path, for it concerns our destiny for eternity. 


Rest

Lord, the world hates You and your disciples, because we declare that there is only one way to be saved. Yet, when You declared this exclusive truth, You are inclusive for anyone who would come and have life, and have it abundantly. Help us therefore, to be inclusive in our witness and love for others; even as we find courage and strength to share the Gospel, and tell of its exclusive truth. 


Jason

   








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Revelations 22:12-21

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