Thoughts From the Bible

Read Revelation 5: 6- 12- God is painting a picture of heaven for us th rough John’s revelation.  I think God may be giving us something to think about as far as praise and worship is concerned.   We cannot fathom the numbers of angels and saints involved in the perpetual worship of God.   He gives us guidance for worship today.   In verse 12, “ ... saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”   People like to say sometimes that a person “only had one job”.  Well, our job in heaven will be to praise and worship the God who saved us and loved us before that.  I want to create these mental images of praise and worship to give God better praise and worship than I have before.

Read Revelation 5: 1- 5 - John is showing me a level of spiritual desire and concern.  The contents of the book are necessary to be known but there was not someone available worthy to open the book.  However, John is reminded who is worthy to open and reveal the contents of the book.   In verse 5, “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep.  Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. ’”   The lesson I take away is that Jesus Christ, God Almighty, are the authors and authority of life.  God alone has the power to reveal the future or to control the future.  I must remind myself to find the peace of God in the knowledge of who God actually is and the authority He has over this life.  I’m afraid we sometimes have a tendency to make God too small in our lives and w e need to be reminded who God is.  His plan and His authority over all .  

Read Revelation 4: 6- 11- Revelation is interesting because of the imagery and the emphasis on the end time of the world as we know it today.  I think it is appropriate to have this section of the book begin with what we should understand in our own hearts each day.  This is all about honoring God Almighty.   Verse 11, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. ” We are living at a time when too many people believe they are responsible for their own well-being .  They don’t fully realize they last part of that verse. “... and by Your will they exist and were created.”  We need to be humbled by the idea we are who we are only by the grace of God.  God gives us the strength and God gives us our knowledge and wisdom and motivation to be who we are.  God Almighty.

Read Revelation 4:1-5 - I think Jesus really understands us.  He knows we are finite people and live in a very physical world.  He gives us a picture of Heaven in these verses.  In verse two, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” One thought I have had as I read through the descriptions Jesus gives us in Revelation, I have always thought, we still do not fully understand how truly awesome Jesus is and how awesome Heaven is.  I don’t think we have the capacity to fully understand or mentally visualize the magnitude.  That is a humbling thought for me.   I’m so glad Jesus gave us this image, but I know we cannot imagine the grand nature of what He has prepared for us.

Read Revelation 3: 20-22- This chapter ends with a message from Jesus that is an intimate invitation.   Verses 20 and 21 say, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."   This invitation applies to all people.  We all have the decision to make as to whether we accept Jesus’ invitation or whether we ignore His invitation.  Accepting the invitation gives us a place of honor with Christ and ignoring His invitation causes separation from Him.   It is life’s ultimate decision.  

Revelation 3:19 says “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore, be zealous and repent.”  Jesus has a desire to see us excel as Christians .   In order to excel, we have to sometimes be challenged to change what we are doing in our lives and be better.  Jesus is pointing out to the church in Laodicea they need to be zealous in their approach to changing their lives to honor Him.  Jesus wants us to be earnest and excited about confessing our sins and making necessary changes in our lives.  Jesus wants to see a fervent approach to our belief in Him.  I know I need to be better!