One Author
What a nice, relaxing day Karen and I had together yesterday, Father. Thank You for Your blessings on our services, our bite of lunch together and the rest of the day that we quietly spent at home. I am truly blessed!
Revelation 3:7-8 (<<click the green)
When we look at the Bible so many people see different things. Many see different writings by different people during different times of history. The only continuity some see is that a great portion of the Old Testament pertains to the nation of Israel and the New Testament deals with the life of You, Lord Jesus, an Israelite, and how Your followers continued to spread his message – the Good News, that is, the Gospel – the salvation You have extended to the world, throughout the world.
But in reality, it is all interconnected…it is intertwined. The books in the Book were written by a variety of people but there was one Author. The Bible, Lord, is Your story, communicating Your creation of us, Your love for us and Your pursuit of us, from the beginning of time until its end.
I love Your interjection of Isaiah 22:22 in the midst of Your message to the churches here in Revelation. Something written so long ago – 800 years before Your coming to live amongst us – found its fulfillment in a church that came into being after Your return to the Father.
Sovereign Lord, You hold the key of David and what You have opened – salvation – “no one can close” and what You have closed “no one can open” – the judgment of all the world is certain. (Concepts communicated in my study Bible*.)
Lord, Your Word clearly tells us that no matter how independent we may find ourselves, no matter how much free will we assert – we find our salvation in You and You alone, not in and of ourselves, and when all is said and done, we will have to answer to You…no ifs, ands or buts.
July 24th, Mon, 6:33 am
*Life Application Study BIble New Living Translation
Erased?
Thank You, Father, for loving me so much! Thank You for holding on and not giving up on me. You know me through and through and still, You cherish me… Thank You, Father…
Revelation 3:5 (<<click the green)
When I was younger I struggled with remaining faithful to You, Lord, every moment of every day. In my mind, I had this picture of my name written in Your Book of Life, and every time I failed You I imagined my name being erased. We all know what happens if you erase the same spot on a piece of paper too many times – a hole is worn in that spot. That’s what I thought my spot in the Book of Life looked like – a hole where my name had been.
As I’ve journeyed along with You these many years I have come to realize that that is not how You work. And once again, my opening thoughts connect perfectly with what You have given me this day. You are patient. You are loving. Your greatest desire is for me to be victorious.
Only if I would throw it all away, only if I would spurn Your love and utterly turn my back on You would my name be erased – blotted out – from Your Book of Life. You would never cast me aside.
Lord, this day as every day, I give myself over to You – to Your will, to Your wisdom, to Your strength, to Your love. Only there am I secure…safe for all eternity. Thank You, Lord, my Redeemer, Savior, and Friend.
July 23rd, Sun, 7:09 am
Down the Front
Father, it is a joy to be with You this morning. May I be attentive as I see what You have for me. Draw me close to Your side. Give me a heart that wants to be like You more than anything else. Amen.
Revelation 3:4-6 (<<click the green)
One of my biggest challenges in life is keeping food off the front of my shirt. Inevitably something of vibrant color will do so, especially when I am out in public.
It happened a couple of Sundays ago. We decided to run into town after church and grab a quick bite at a well know Mexican food place. I kept my burrito in the wrapper for extra protection, leaned over the tray in a precautionary move…but to no avail! One bite and a chunk of tomato covered in meat sauce fell to my thumb, rolled down my hand and tumbled over the front of my shirt! So for the rest of the afternoon, I walked Napoleon-style with my hand over my shirt trying to cover the stain! And of course, we ran into people we knew…no surprise there!
Verse 4 here speaks of the few in Sardis who had not “soiled their clothes with evil.” Sin leaves a mark, stains are unavoidable. Trying to cover them up is futile. Lord, You see it all. You witness the act and You are keenly aware of the aftermath. The older I get the more I realize that I, in and of myself…I, in my own strength and power…I simply cannot stand against sin. Inevitably I will take a bite out of something I shouldn’t be biting and it will roll down the front of my shirt and my clothes are soiled. Only in You, Lord, can I be victorious! Only in You can I avoid the temptations. Only in You can I stand strong against the evil that wants to entrap me.
Lord, may I be faithful to You. May I be victorious so that I too may “walk with [You] in white” for only because of You will I be found worthy. Amen.
July 21st, Fri, 6:49 am
The Queen Mary
Thank You for a good night’s sleep and a little extra than usual this morning, Father. Guide this day as You see fit. May I accomplish what You deem important. Amen
Revelation 3:1-3 (<<click on green)
Lord, as I read of the church in Sardis a sermon illustration comes to mind. The church looked alive on the outside but was dead on the inside.
The Queen Mary was the largest ship to cross the oceans when it was launched in 1936. Through four decades and a World War, she served until she was retired and anchored as a floating hotel and museum in Long Beach, California. But when she was retired from active passenger service, it was discovered that part of her gleaming exterior was hiding something far less attractive and substantial.
Her three elliptical smoke stacks, 36 feet long, 23 feet wide, and ranging from 70 down to 62 feet in height, were made of sheets of steel over an inch thick. During her decades of service, at least 30 coats of paint had been applied to the massive smokestacks, forming a shell around the steel interior. But when they were removed, after her decommissioning, for maintenance it was discovered that they were nothing but shells. When lifted off the liner and placed on the docks, they crumbled!
Over the years, the thick steel of which they had been made had turned to rust from long exposure to heat and moisture. The beautiful exteriors of the smokestacks revealed a rusty, crumbly interior that spoke not of beauty and elegance but of deterioration and decay. The external appearance was hiding the internal reality.
Lord, help me to be the real deal down to my core. May what people see have no pretense. May I “hold…firmly” to what I “heard and believed at first…” Amen.
July 20th, Thurs, 8:52 am
Morning Star
Good evening, Father! Overall today was a good day. It started catching up to me at the end of my shift but you enabled me to push through to the end. May what is left of this day be pleasing in Your eyes. Amen.
Revelation 2:24-29 (<<click green)
Lord, when I read this passage two things, in conjunction with each other, jumped out at me. One is a portion of verse 25, “hold tightly to what you have until I come.” And the other was a note from my study Bible* in regards to giving them the “morning star” if they “are victorious”. verses 26, 28
So I will remember my connection, the note states,
“Christ is also called the morning star in 22:16. A morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is coldest and darkest. When the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bringing his promised reward.”
Lord, You put those two things together in a marvelous way! I know it is no surprise to You but it is very cool for me. I guess I never realized the significance of the morning star until I read that note. Many people feel that we are living in the last days of this earth. I don’t know and even You said. “Only the Father knows.” (verse 36b of Matthew 24:1-36)
My goal as one of Your many followers is to hold tightly to what I have until You come and to give the opportunity for many others to hold on as well. I must admit the world seems to be getting scarier every day that passes. But I refuse to be overwrought with fear! For I know the Morning Star and it may yet get colder and darker but, without the least inkling of doubt, I know You will burst on the scene…and all will be as it should. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
July 19th, Wed, 7:25 pm