And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.
Micah 2:4 NET
Observations:
Jesus will take His place as the Shepherd of God’s people. (we are the flock the sheep of His pasture – see Psalm 100:3)
Jesus will do His work by God’s strength and authority.
[We], His people, will live securely because He reigns!
Application:
I have a good Shepherd.
His strength and authority belong to God.
Through Him, I can/will live securely – because Christ and His Kingdom will last forever.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, I don’t always understand Your Word – especially the prophecies – but what I do know and trust is Jesus is the Great Shepherd, my Shepherd – who rules and reigns and has made a way for me to live securely and forever with You! – I praise You for these truths in the name of Jesus – Amen!
TODAY’S REFLECTION:
How is God calling your heart to Him this week? me: In compassion He’s calling me to be still and know/remember that He is God – to keep my eyes on Him and not the circumstances or busyness of life
What is He doing in your life that displays His great mercy and love as well as His holiness? me: He is giving me strength for each new day and the peace that truly passes all understanding. He is graciously showing me mercy through His patience with me when I mess up, and forgiving me when I sin.
Your Turn: I invite you to share your soap and your reflections in the comment section or feel free to email me if you have questions.
The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NET
Observations: The Day of Hope
Are these the things you believe about your God?
Do you know that He is in your midst, that He is with you?
Do you see Him as a mighty warrior who not only can but has delivered you from the power of sin and death?
Do you believe, despite what you know about yourself (and despite what He knows), that your God takes great delights in you?
Have you experienced the calming, renewing effect of His love in your life?
Can you hear Him rejoicing over you with singing?
Application: It’s all in the attitude
I’ve said it before but it bears repeating … What we believe will steer our attitude. We will either be shouting for joy at what God has promised that is yet to come and rejoicing over what He has already done – or, we will doubt who He is and miss all that He has for us while we wait here on earth – and possibly what He has promised those who belong to Him in the future. We must be intentional, write it down on paper or better yet, put it in the notes section of your phone. When doubt or fears arise and hope dwindles pull it out and read it as a mantra- Perhaps something like this …
God is my God and He is with me, my mighty Savior who takes delight in me, with gladness! I will remind myself often that it is in Him and because of His love that I find a calming peace and a renewal my spirit.
Me, from the inside-out
Prayer:
Father – how great is Your love! You dwell with me – my warrior who has saved me. I am Your daughter and You take great delight in me – even shouting for joy over me with song! I am forever grateful for your word and for Your messages and promises of hoped contained within it! –
Reflections:
What does Zephaniah 3:17 show us about God’s coming restoration? How can you find joy and proclaim His goodness today?
The God Who Restores, wk3d1; A Love God Greatly Study
Today’s Reading: Psalm 126
Today’s SOAP: Psalm 126:4-6
Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:4-6
I have gotten behind on a few things and will be posting a little differently this week, or at least for a few days this week (as time will tell). I trust you will understand and bear with me – I am borrowing devotional writings from the LGG Team provided in the journals and will be posting my SOAP/thoughts on the passage in the comment sections, as I hope you will do too. 😊
INTO THE TEXT – A LOVE GOD GREATLY DEVOTION
w3d1 of The God Who Restores, p90
The people of Israel had seen God’s restoration. They had seen Him restore Zion in such miraculous ways that they believed they were dreaming. They shouted for joy, praising God for the incredible things He accomplished for them. God had brought the people back from exile in Babylon and restored and rebuilt the temple and the city walls in Jerusalem.
This psalm was written after that restoration, when the people of Israel were again waiting for God’s deliverance. They were once again in desperate need of His healing and His intervention and this psalm reminded them of His faithfulness and gave them joy as they looked to what He would do in the future. Though they were still awaiting God’s restoration, they remembered His kindness, compassion, and faithfulness.
This week, we focus on the incredible joy we have in the Lord. After remembering the promise of His return and our great need for Him, we turn our focus to the joy that we already have in him and the fullness of joy we will have when He has restored us.
When we focus on the joy we have in the Lord, no matter our circumstance, we find hope. We do not ignore our suffering, but we focus on God’s faithfulness and what He promises to do. He promises to restore the world. He promises to return, defeat the enemy, and establish His kingdom on earth. God promises to dwell with us forever and to give us eternal life when we place our faith in Him.
[Since we know] God can keep these incredible promises to us, and [because we know] he can restore the world, surely He can restore our current circumstances. Not only is He powerful enough to intervene, but He cares deeply about the pain and sorrow we face today. He promises to restore all things. Though God’s ways and timing may look different than what we hope for, we can have joy as we anticipate His fulfilled promises and His coming restoration. May we shout for joy, even as we wait for Him.
Written by an LGG Team Member
Today’s Reflection:
How have you seen God restore your life or circumstances in the past?
What are you asking of Him or waiting for Him to do for you today?
How does His past faithfulness give you joy in your present season of waiting?
9bSay to the towns of Judah, “[Behold] your God!” 10 Look, the Sovereign Lord comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him. 11 Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.
Isaiah 40:9b-11
Observations: Behold Your God!
From the first words of this chapter, Isaiah’s message changed from one of coming doom to one of comfort and peace and the coming of the LORD, the God of Israel. The message becomes one of hope and preparation for His return – a message of making a way, removing obstacles, and getting ready to see God’s work. Israel had known hills and valleys and mountain top experiences in their life time – but they were not to let them stand in the way of seeing God and what He would do. -They were to make a way for “all people to see” when His splendor that would one day be revealed (5)
The people of Judah are called to“behold [their] God”. Behold has such a different connotation than glancing or noticing, it is more like gazing or fixing your eyes on something. It was an invitation to take a lingering look, to look intently – as if to study God for who He is and how He is. For instance, as Isaiah points out- God and His Word are eternal and unfailing! He can forever be trusted!
Isaiah doesn’t just present the message/invitation for the people to Behold their God, but he gets specific, pointing out the mightiness and yet the tenderness of God:
The LORD our God will come
He will come as a victorious warrior
He is strong and mighty
He comes prepared to reward His people
He is like a shepherd
He cares for His flock
He is tender and protective with the lambs
He keeps them close and carefully, knowingly, tenderly leads the vulnerable
Application: So what does this mean for God’s people today?
Of course, this message was first given to the people of “Israel”, – but in light of the fact that we have been adopted into God’s family, as sons and daughters – we too are called to “Behold our God”. To look at Him, gaze upon Him, study His life, know His love, and pour it back out on others. In this there is both comfort and peace. I believe for the full scope and application of this passage we must not miss or hesitate to look at the full message of Isaiah in these eleven verses, namely verses three and four, where we read:
Clear a way for the LORD – (in other words, remove the obstacles)
level the road
elevate the valleys
level the mountains and hills
where there is rough terrain needs to be a level plain
the rugged landscape a wide valley
Why? Because if they don’t, if we don’t, we will miss what God is doing and is going to do.
Finally, we must not be afraid to present our God to others – boldly drawing their attention to who He is – “the Sovereign LORD, coming as a victorious warrior, a powerful ruler, who will reward those who belong to Him”; and also how He is – “A [tender] shepherd, who tends his flock, gathering up the lambs with his arm, carrying them close to his heart, leading the ewes along.”
Is there anything better to occupy a believer’s mind than to focus on God and then pour Him out to others?
Mefromtheinsideout –
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, today’s passage calls us to look to come and behold You – to gaze upon You and see You not only in power and might like a warrior but as a shepherd who tenderly and lovingly leads Your sheep — keeping them close to Your heart and protectively leading those who are vulnerable. I’m so thankful to know You as a God of comfort and peace who will come in power and might! Admittedly, I rely on both.
Lord, how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law 13 to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 The Lord will not leave his people or abandon his heritage, 15 for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Psalm 94:12-15 CSB
Observations: God’s People
I think most of us, myself included, prefer the loving, kind, long suffering descriptions of God rather than the passages that boast or cry out for the avenging God, the God who pays back the proud. The Psalmist cries out for that in today’s passage and yet he also sings God’s praises, boasting of how blessed we are to be taught of Him, how He instructs in order to protect us from times of trouble until the wicked are destroyed. Clearly, as the Psalmist clarifies, God understands that it is hard to live among the wicked who constantly seem to flourish and even celebrate, while those who follow God struggle through, what seems like, one trouble after another. So it was quite refreshing and encouraging to reach verse 12 and the verses that followed, specifically through verse 15. To read of the one who receives God’s instructions, the one who is taught by God from His law is blessed with His protection from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed.
However, I think the most encouraging words in the passage aside from knowing He will protect us come in verses 14 and 15 where the Psalmist insist that God will not forsake us, restating it and clarifying that God will not abandon His people – those who belong to Him. The writer goes on to explain that while it may not look like it now – justice for the righteous will prevail! Our God will clear us of any blame or suspicion, He will make right the wrongs for those who walk in His ways.
Application: What does this mean for me?
While in this world it may seem like the ‘wicked’ – the ‘evil doers’, the ‘morally corrupt prevail in all they do’ but the upright suffer for their righteous living – there will come a day when the tables will turn and the upright, those who walk in the way of the LORD, will be vindicated.
Are you following God but facing one trial after another while others who follow only the desires of their hearts seem to flourish? If so, take heart and rejoice in knowing that our God reigns! He will neither forsake or abandon you and will protect you in your times of trouble and use them for His glory and your good.
Prayer: Our Response to God’s Word
Father, thank You that You have adopted us into Your family – that You have by grace through faith made us – or a way for us – to be Your people. For as surely as this promise was true in the Psalmist day so it is in ours! You will never forsake Your people. You will not abandon us because we belong to You. And though we wait for Jesus in this world full of sin – we continually wait with hope in Your promise to one day vindicate the upright.
Your Turn: Reflections:
How do you handle waiting on God?
Are you impatient, doing all you can to ‘help’ God out?
A God Who Restores, A Love God Greatly Advent Study
Today’s Reading: Psalm 13
Today’s SOAP: Psalm 13:5-6
But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance. I will sing praises to the Lord when he vindicates me.
Psalm 13:5-6
Observations: More Lamenting
Like Habakkuk’s lament from yesterday’s post – the Psalmist from today’s reading feels ignored or forgotten. Actually, “how long?” is a common phrase of lament, of people crying out honestly to God with their cares and concerns. However, David writes it four times in this one six verse Psalm – perhaps an indication that that his suffering has lasted a long time, explaining why he feels the way he does. David was lamenting not only his physical struggle of waiting on the Lord’s deliverance but the emotional fears and concerns about his enemies seeing him defeated or the thought that they would rejoice because they saw him shaken.
What I love most about this Psalm is that while David makes it clear that he felt defeated he also makes it very clear that he had not lost hope in God’s faithfulness. He placed so much trust in God, that despite how everything ‘seemed’, he was planning to rejoice in God’s deliverance and sing praises to Him – because he believed God would vindicate him.
Application: What can I learn from this?
Despite the circumstances of our lives, we must trust in God, in His faithfulness and power to rescue us and set us free, even when it feels as though we’ve already been defeated and our enemies are gloating over our failure to stand strong. I am also reminded, that we must be careful not to fear or crave the approval of man so much that we take our eyes off of God, which shakes our trust and adds to the worries of our lives.
Because I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8 ESV
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, thank you for David’s example – his endurance in suffering, his dependency on You, and his determination to trust You in the midst of life’s difficulties. – May we learn from his example to bring You our honest worries and concerns accompanied with our determination to trust You regardless of how things look or feel. In this You will be glorified and our roots will grow deeper and deeper in You. – To Your glory and honor in the the name of Jesus our Lord – Amen!
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
Philippians 4:4-8
YOUR TURN: REFLECTIONS
What are you facing this season? Do you feel neglected, ignored or passed over by God? Are you in a season of rejoicing and praising God for His faithfulness? Or, perhaps, you’re facing both. You feel loss and pain, but you can also recognize God’s provision, wisdom, protection, and care.
(Borrowed from the LGG Devotion, p68 of A God Who Restores)
More: We Can Trust In Him
Our God is faithful. Nothing is unnoticed by Him. No matter the pain we feel or the praise we proclaim. He is always with us. When God’s people waited for he Messiah, God was silent for four hundred years. The people felt ignored by God, forgotten even. But He was working out His perfect plan in His perfect timing. He is not ignoring you. He is not withholding from you. He is working in ways you cannot see or understand, even now, in your situation. And more than that, He is working in incredible, unseen ways to bring about His purposes for the perfect moment when Jesus Christ will return. We can trust Him!
Borrowed from Love God Greatly, p68 of A God Who Restores
How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not deliver! 3 Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. 4 For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.
Habakkuk 1:2-4
Observations: In the Absence of Law Justice is Perverted
Because God’s law was no longer being honored, Habakkuk, the prophet, cried out to God . Then, feeling as though he wasn’t being heard – he continued to call out, but still, no deliverance was seen. He was overwhelmed by the injustice God had him witness, and he didn’t understand why God was putting up with all the wrongdoing. He was confronted by destruction and violence and constantly had to endure conflict and strife.
Because of these things, he concluded that the law had become powerless (insomuch that it wasn’t being carried out). In its absence, the wicked were intimidating the innocent, and justice was being perverted.
Application: How can I apply this?
I am reminded that God’s Word is given for our instruction, for rebuke and correction, and to train us in righteousness – so that those who are dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. Thus, I am convicted by Habakkuk’s lament that, like Habakkuk, I should cry out to God with this prayer on behalf of our world today.
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NET
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, we live in a world that, for the most part, does not honor You. Much like Habakkuk’s lament expresses – our world is filled with violence and it often seems like there is little to no deliverance. Thus, we are forced to witness a myriad of of injustices and atrocities. We wonder why You put up with wrong doing, we are confronted with destruction and violence when we watch or read any world news publication. Conflict is definitely present and we constantly have to endure strife. We watch as the law seems powerless and justice is perverted – so much, that the wicked intimidate the innocent – and we often cry out as Habakkuk – how long and why? And, I find myself pressed to say, even so Lord Jesus come!
Your Turn: Reflections
What are some of the questions you want to ask God today? Remember He cares for you, so spend time honestly sharing your heart with Him.
Father, Your Word makes it clear that all have sinned and fall short of Your glory, and having done so our payment should be death; but in this first week of advent You have reminded us that You are a loving, good, and gracious God, who has given all who believe in Your Son – life instead of death! And with that promise comes the hope of eternity with You in Your Kingdom – the New Jerusalem – yet to come! As we wait for our Redeemer’s return, may Your Spirit teach us and keep us faithful to pray for peace, prosperity, and security for Your people, both here and around the world – Thank You for the Love God Greatly ministry that not only enhances our relationship with You, but for the focus they place on reaching and transforming women with Your Word in every nation and tribe! You know me Father, You know my passion for all things Christmas – but the trees and lights and shopping, the hurry and busyness to get things done clamor for our attention daily. Help me/us to make sure to not allow – what can be the joys of the season – to distract me/us from the first advent – the coming of the Christ child – the reason for the season.
Thank You for the encouragement of Advent to focus and refocus our hearts on Your promises God. The promise we read of in week one, of peace and of no more tears or sorrow or pain and suffering, was one we can never hear enough. However, to those who are currently in challenging seasons of their lives, it was a particularly wonderful reminder and source of encouragement.
Jesus, help us to live today and every day, preparing for Your return. Help us to know what boundaries to set in order to be guarded from trading the peace You came to bring for the busyness of the season and the demands of every day life.
Holy Spirit – Prepare our hearts as we begin the second week of Advent. As Jesus did with His disciples, open our minds to understand The Word that we will read, and help us to grow by it, to live it out, and to share it for the glory of Your Holy and powerful Name! – Amen, so let it be!
Today’s Reading: Luke 21:25-36; SOAP: Luke 21: 27-28
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Observation – Precursors
As I read the first lines of the opening verses (25-26), leading up to the focus passage (27-28) – two things struck me – the first was how familiar or similar the events sounded to what we read and hear in the news today. The second was one word – “signs”. When I read that word – the passage of the wise men following a star that led them to Bethlehem where the Christ Child lay popped in my mind. It hit me, just as the wise men studied and watched – staying alert to the things that would reveal the one they were waiting on and knowing when to travel with their gifts for the “King” – we too can study and know the signs and wonder. No, we will not know the day or the hour – for not even Jesus knows this, but we can know He is coming and we can tell others about Him. We can, and should, stand (be alert) to what God has revealed in His Word, the precursors – so to speak.
Actually to come close to understanding and truly appreciating the focus passage, it helps greatly to read verses 8-26 , where you will read warnings about false prophets, the persecution of disciples, and the desolation of Jerusalem – before coming to the wonderful news that Jesus is coming again, in power and great glory!
The Focus Passage – verses 27-28
Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27-28
I’ll be honest with you, I don’t truly or fully understand what this means and will not begin to explain it. However, what I do know is that –
Jesus is the Son of Man
He is comingagain to complete the redemption of His people
He will be seen arriving in a cloud
Note: God’s presence is often accompanied by clouds. A cloud guided the Israelites by day (Exodus 13:21). God protected Moses from His glory with a cloud (Exodus 19:9). And God appeared during Jesus’ transfiguration in a cloud (Mark 9:7). God seems to use our literal heavens as a metaphor for the spiritual heavens in which He lives. Clouds, then, act as a kind of threshold between the realms. (Bibleref.com)
He will arrive in power and great glory
God’s word makes it clear that there will be signs
Those who remain should be paying attention
Standing, alert, with heads raised, and minds and hearts surrendered and ready for the redemption that is coming
Application :Intentional, alert, and ready
As for me… the application is just what is advised in verses 27-28 :
Look for the signs and wonders of God (be intentional with God’s Word, familiar with and focused on the promises of His return and the knowledge and hope He has given)
Stand up ( be alert)
Raise your heads – despite the events or the condition of the world around us, we know He is coming again and can live with that certainty rather than the hopelessness and panic of the world around us (be ready and help others be ready by making Him known)
Want more?
One of the greatest perks of purchasing the devotional journals for the LGG studies is that it helps spread God’s Word in every language. However, the devotion that follows each days Scripture reading is my second favorite perk. I found today’s especially helpful and wanted to share it with you. Hope you enjoy!
Before His death Jesus spoke of His return. He let His followers know that even though he would leave this earth for a time, He would return to power and great glory. He explained some of the signs that would happen before His return, alerting His people to them so they would be expectant of His coming.
During the Christmas season, we focus on the birth of Christ, which was His first coming. He has come and has delivered us from sin and death. But what Advent reminds us, year after year, is that we still live in brokenness and long for His second coming. It is this longing we remember during Advent as we look forward to His return.
The day of our redemption is drawing near. Advent is the season of intentionally waiting as we slow down our lives, our hearts, and our schedules to reset and remember what we are truly waiting for. The world tells us we need to attend parties, buy gifts, experience all the seasonal attractions, and wear all the ugly sweaters. What Jesus tells us is that we must watch, set aside time to pray, and be ready!
Jesus told His disciples not to allow their hearts to be so weighed down with the worries of life that His return comes as a surprise. Instead, we are to continually turn our eyes and hearts to Him, staying alert and ready for His return. We are to live with great purpose, as a light in our dark world. That may mean saying “no” to a few parties, activities, or gifts. It may mean laying down our expectations and yielding to God’s will. It may mean waking up early to spend time alone with Jesus and letting Him fill our longing hearts with His love and life. Whatever it may be, we can know that it is worth it. May we live expectant, faithful lives, always prepared for His return.
LGG, The God Who Restores, wk1/d5 devotion – p54
For even more visitLove God Greatly – You won’t want to miss this beautiful analogy!
Your Turn: Reflection
How can you live today to prepare for Christ’s return?
How will you set boundaries or guards this season to trade the busyness and urgency of the world for the peace of Christ?
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end! Revelation 22:13 NET
Observation and More
I find John’s opening words in chapter 21 captivating. So I hope you will indulge me for just a minute or two before we look at the focus verse. I mean how can we read and not address John’s descriptive word picture of, “a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist.” If that isn’t enough to draw you in, surely the description of seeing the holy city and the new Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband” captures your attention. Then, as if you need any more enticement, you hear the voice of the “husband”, the one seated on the throne talking about God’s home being among humans and saying [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former thing have ceased to exist. – Look,” He says, “I am making all things new!” Then John says, “[The One on the throne] also said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life.” Oh how beautiful and hope-filled are these words and all the ones which follow.
You Are On God’s Mind
Not too long after reading these captivating words this morning and soaping the focus verse, I was going through my email and opened one from a ‘blog’ I follow, written by Anne-Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham. This particular blog focused on a verse from Revelation 1:8 – which says:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8
I say it again and again, how sweet is the timing of our God?
Much like being caught up with John’s word picture of the new heaven and earth, I was taken up with Anne’s own word picture of the title, Alpha and Omega …, namely how it, as she wrote, “describes the eternal omniscience of Jesus Christ.” She went on to explain, “The alpha is the first letter and the omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. Through the alphabet all of our words, all of our wisdom, and all of our knowledge are expressed. Jesus is the beginning and end of the alphabet, the summation of all wisdom and knowledge.”
However, what filled my heart with joy was the way she described what the omniscience of Christ means to her personally? Anne wrote, “It means [we] have always been on His mind. Think of it: The most important Man in the universe has always been thinking of [us]! Wonder of wonders! [We] have never been out of His thoughts! Even as He hung on the cross, He was thinking of [us] by name! Dying for [us] by name! …” – The passage we read today and the passage Anne wrote about obviously correlate – and together prod my heart to ask – in response to Anne’s word picture , am I, as part of the church, always thinking about Him? Is He always in my thoughts, even when life is hard or when I’m in the middle of a mountain-top experience? And, in response to John’s word picture – how am I, as part of the bride of Christ, adorning myself for Him?
The Focus Verse
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end! Revelation 11:13
Jesus Christ, is:
The Alpha and the Omega
The first and the last
The beginning and the end
Jesus is eternal
There is no one like Him, no one who came before Him – no one who will come after Him. He was there in the beginning, when God spoke the world into place and when we were created.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God-
John 1:1
Application: What does this mean to me?
I love how the prophecy doesn’t end with the beautifully enticing description of the City – but with a focus strictly on Jesus and His return! As wonderful as the ‘Eternal City’ will be – the reality and beauty of the Eternal King is to be our focus, always on our mind and forever our hope. When He is, we will adorn ourselves appropriately – with the fruit of His Spirit [Galatians 5:22-26]. We will be found living and loving like Him [John 13:34] , showing grace and mercy to others, making allowance for each others faults, and forgiving anyone who offends us [Colossians 3:12-13]; and above all, we will clothe ourselves with love and let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. The message about Christ, the Gospel, will fill our lives. We will teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives, sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts, and whatever we do or say, we will keep in mind that we are representative of the Lord Jesus, meant to bring glory to the Father, [Colossians 3:14-17].
Your Turn: Reflection
How are you adorning yourself for Christ?
What part does Christ play in your thoughts, in your life, in your consideration of all things?
Prayer: My Response to God’s Word
Father, You were there before time began – and it is a beautiful thing to know that Jesus was there with You; and to know that though He died for my sins, He has never ceased to exist! He is eternal and has given me eternal life. Oh, what victory we have in Jesus! The Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end – the One who was and is and always will be!I long to be forever in Your presence but until that time – until we are face to face, help me live and love like Jesus so the lost will see and hear and be saved, and You will receive the glory! In the Restoring and Majestic name of Jesus, who will make all things new – Amen!
Me From the Inside Out 