Father, focus my mind on Your directive. May I obey without hesitancy. Amen.
Revelation 1:19-20 (<<click here to read the passage)
The terminology here, Lord, refers to “messengers” and is quite often translated as “angels” but in this setting – the notes in the Amplified Bible and in my Life Application Study Bible – it seems not to lend itself to heavenly beings but to earthly messengers.
I must pointedly ask myself, who would an earthly messenger of a church be? In my life who is appointed to deliver Your message to Your Church? Me…it’s me…and many other pastors such as myself. As my study Bible puts it, I am “accountable to God for the churches [I] represent.”
I am responsible, under Your direction, to steer the church along the course we must go…no if’s and’s or but’s. Sometimes it is a fairly easy course. At other times it can be difficult – full of pitfalls and attempts to turn the church off its intended path.
As I ready myself to move forward into Your words for the seven churches, I must also let Your words speak to me. You call me to listen to what You would have me hear. It is my responsibility as Your messenger to obey Your word for me and Your word for Your church.
I would pray for Your wisdom in both areas. May I follow Your command of, “Don’t be afraid!” v17 regarding the churches You have given me and my own life as well. Amen.
(June 20th, 2017, Tues, 9:47 pm)
June 29th, 2023, Thurs, 9:43 pm
