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Monday November 24 - The servant of God
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies
to everything he saw... Revelation 1:1-2
This revelation, which has inspired and confounded generations of Christians, was first entrusted to an old man living in exile on the Greek island of Patmos. It is generally accepted that that man was John, Jesus’ beloved disciple – John who wrote a gospel account and three epistles. Now in his nineties, probably the last living disciple and isolated by persecution, John had a visitation from an angel.
Imagine for a moment the context. God wanted to impart a revelation of Jesus, of heaven and the things that were to come; he chose a nonagenarian, marooned alone in a foreign country. Surely such a vision would be safer in the hands of a scholarly young man of influence? But no, it was to an aged son of a fisherman that God sent an angel with a message and vision too glorious for words.
John had remained true to Jesus; here he addresses himself as God’s servant. To such a humble man this most precious message was entrusted – a message from Jesus, about Jesus, to be shared with all mankind for the age to come.
The highest call a person can receive is to be a servant of God; to such a person God’s word comes not via a search engine, newsroom or influencer but from heaven’s throne room! Please consider taking time today to ‘exile’ yourself, and with a servant heart wait for God’s voice.
Heavenly Father, I need to take time to hear your voice. Please tell me what I need to know today. Amen.
Tuesday November 25 - The testimony of Jesus
(He) testifies to everything he saw – that is, the word of God and the
testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:2
The Apostle John was steeped in Old Testament, end-time teaching (e.g. the books of Daniel and Ezekiel, Isaiah chapters 56-66 and Zechariah 9-14), and in Revelation these teachings are confirmed and built upon by Jesus. This teaching is vital – so much so that we are told, ‘Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it...’ (v 3).
Revelation is the word of God given to Jesus as a ‘testimony’ (a Greek word meaning a declaration of fact). Jesus, the One who is truth (John 14:6) testifies to the truth. This is the reason why anyone who reads Revelation and takes it to heart will be blessed. Sadly, today the doctrine of Jesus’ second coming is often downgraded in favour of a more ‘immediate’ gospel – a ‘gospel’ offering blessings on demand. The belief that we should endure trials courageously, in the knowledge that one day Jesus will return to usher in a new heaven and a new earth, is not ‘popularist’ Christianity.
Dear friend, know that God can deliver you, but his answer to your prayer may be, ‘For your light and momentary troubles are achieving for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Heavenly Father, out of your glorious riches, please strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY