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?
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
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!
At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic.
Isaiah 11:10 NET
Observations: The Root of Jesse and a signal flag
The root from Jesse represents the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the shoot, the bud, the root out of the stump of Jesse. (See verse 1 and Acts 13:22-23).
The Root, our Messiah, would be a banner or a “signal flag for the nations”.
He will be one who stands out and is sought after. (see: Luke 2:32; John 3:14-15, 12:32: Romans 15:12; and Revelation 5:5)
Application: How then should we live?
There are probably many more, but the applications that came to mind were –
Celebrate the birth, the life, and the death of Jesus, who came from the stump of Jesse.
Wait with confident expectation knowing that He will one day come again. In this we can trust and rejoice.
Keep the celebration for His first coming flowing and the anticipation growing for His second coming by staying grounded, rooted, and fixed on Him. This means faithfully dwelling in and living out His Word. Remember, it is living and active, a light to our feet, a weapon against sin and discouragement as we wait, and it is the power of God that leads to the salvation of all who believe!
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, how great You are! Jesus what a beautiful gift You are, a signal flag of HOPE, assurance, and guidance as we wait for Your return. Holy Spirit, who rested upon Jesus and now lives in us, You fill us with POWER and HOPE as we wait for what is to come; and You stir us to celebrate and rejoice as we remember Bethlehem and the gift, Your gift, of the baby in the manger. Strengthen us as we wait, keep us faithfully living and loving like Jesus, and use us as salt and light in this dark world. Blessed be the name of the Lord, the God who restores! Thank You in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior – Amen!
I invite you to join me for the journey through our upcoming study, The God Who Restores, which begins on November 28.
A perfect follow-up to Come, Lord Jesus, Come, The God Who Restores Bible study journal will lead us through the season of Advent, a season of waiting and great expectation of the coming back of our eternal King.
Advent[isn’t just] a season of waiting, but of remembering, and rejoicing. We wait for Christ’s return, celebrating His first coming even as we wait and long for His return. We remember the brokenness of our world and how He will bring restoration and wholeness when He comes. And we praise Him, remembering the joy we have as we place our hope in Christ.
You’ll find everything you need for the journey right here beginning November 28. Invite a friend along for the journey by sharing this post, or plan to do this one with your family to get the whole house celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. To make it extra special check out the journal details below and how your order potentially gives life to women around the world.
This study journal includes daily readings and SOAP verses, devotions to aid in understanding, as well as reflection questions and highlights from a global Love God Greatly branch. Perfect for personal or small group study, The God Who Restores will offer you encouragement in your walk of faith.
The God Who Restores Bible study journal includes:
– Four-week reading plan
– Daily Scripture readings
– SOAP journaling pages
– Daily devotionals
– Two-week Bridge reading plan
– Weekly challenges and reflection questions
– Global highlight: LGG Chinese Branch
– Beautiful full-color photography
Don’t forget! Your purchase reaches the nations!
By purchasing Love God Greatly Bible study journals, you are directly supporting the ministry of Love God Greatly, reaching thousands of women with God’s Word in their own native, heart languages! Thank you for your support!
Please note that all sales are final. We do not accept returns.
100% of your journal purchase goes back into the ministry, helping us translate each study into multiple languages as we reach more women around the world with God’s Word.
He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! 21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
Revelation 22:20-21
Beautiful Observations
Jesus, the one who testifies to these things John has written, confirms His impending return. This of course closes the New Testament much the same way that Malachi’s words closed the old, with a promise that Jesus, “the sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) and the “bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16) is coming soon! To which John responds, and we often find ourselves echoing: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
For me those could have been the closing words, but what John says next is somehow more beautiful. For, what better prayer could there be than for God’s sustaining grace(s) to be with His people as they wait. 1Paul Tripp writes of six different types of grace and acknowledges that there are even more. Grace is grace though, right? Well, yes. However, within that one word there is a treasure trove of gifts. Gifts like forgiveness from sins, acceptance into His family, His forever presence, His glorious grace-gift of freedom from the bondage of sin, and the grace of our faith made complete2– no more sin or sorrow, when “Everything will be restored, and we will worship in the presence of this amazing God of grace.” Until then, there is the grace-gift of enablement, which comes to us through His divine power and gives us everything we need to live a godly life.3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4
So What Does This Mean for us?
It means that …
we can trust that He will return (2 Corinthians 1:20)
we serve a God of Grace(s) (1 Peter 5:10, and others)
by His grace we are forgiven (1 John 1:9) and of accepted into His family (1 John 3:1-2)
He is always present with us (John 14:16)
He has equipped us with His power and strength to do what He has called us to do (2 Peter 1:3-4)
We’ve been set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 6:14-15)
and that will one day our faith will be made complete (Phil 1:6)
So again, I echo a prayer of John’s – as we wait upon His faithful promise – “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of His Holy People.” – And to this I say amen!
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you (and this by His Grace), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6
Response to God’s Word
Father, God of Grace and mercy thank You for sending Jesus as a gift of salvation to all who believe. May those who have not yet believed – hear, believe, and be saved; and may those of us who have believed stand firm in our belief and faithful to Your calling, to make Christ known, as we wait on Your perfect timing and love. For we know that You have not forgotten, nor are You slow in keeping Your promise as some count slowness, but You, in Your goodness and love, are patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance! This is my prayer in Jesus’ Name – amen!
Your Turn: Reflections
What are you most excited about when you think of what life will be like when Jesus comes back?
Want More?
If you would like more of a reflection on our journey this week please visit the following devotional links from the team of Love God Greatly. – You’ll also find a sneak peek at our next study!
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Revelation 22:12-13 NLT
Simple Observations and Findings
“SOON”: While we have covered this word before, I believe it is worth repeating for a fuller understanding or clarification. According to BibleRef.com, the word is from a Greek word that more accurately means “quickly”, and has more to do with ‘how’ He’s coming than ‘when’. His return will be sudden and unpredictable (Matthew 24:36)
“My reward is with me …” My best understanding of this is that Christ comes with the power to reward both the saved and the lost – according to the choices they have made. The lost, those whose deeds reveal their denial of Christ, will receive the “punishment” they deserve, the reward of God’s wrath. The Saved, those who have, by faith alone, trusted in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins, will receive their inheritance of eternal life, the reward of God’s grace.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not from yourselves it is the gift of God not by works so that no one can boast.(Ephesians 2:8-9)
“pay each one according to what he has done.” What have you done? Have you chosen Jesus or have you chosen the world? We know that there is evil in our world, but we also see the “fruit of God’s grace in His people” throughout the world as well. Do your “deeds” identify you as one who is evil or do they reveal God’s grace? Whatever they reveal the one path leads to eternal punishment and the other to eternal life.
For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23)
For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Perhaps this one seems self-evident but I found it helpful to truly observe it and not just take it for the popular phrase that it is.
Jesus has always existed.
He’s eternal, no true beginning and no end.
He was with God in the beginning
He is God
He identifies Himself as the God of the Old Testament (Isa 41:4, 6, Isa 44:6, and 48:12)
He is the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; John 1:1, 14; Matthew 5:17; and Ephesians 2:8-9).
Response to God’s Word
Jesus, what a wonder You are! The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Not only will You reign forever but you will come back soon and pay each one according to their deeds. Send a revival through our land Father so that the lost will know life rather than the eternal punishment of death. Open their eyes and ears, their hearts and minds to the message so that they might believe and by faith be saved. Cause us to be alert to those around us who need to hear the message so that they might share in the inheritance of eternal life that You have promised to those who believe. We wait on You Jesus, we wait on You. –
Your Turn: Reflections
Knowing that you will one day be rewarded for how you lived your life, are you motivated or concerned? Why?
Me From the Inside Out 