Page 68 - Living Light 91

Wednesday February 18 - The song to sing
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:10
Whether or not you have taken part in political rallies, you will almost certainly have seen them on the news. People will hold placards (often home-made) and will probably be chanting – perhaps the name of their candidate or the party’s slogan. Football crowds behave similarly, chanting their team’s name and encouraging them to go for victory. John recounts that it is the same in heaven! The crowd not only wear white robes and wave palm branches, they are chanting, “Salvation belongs to our God!”
Salvation is what every political or military leader offers. It is the summary word for all that is good, healthy, life-giving, nourishing. It means you are completely safe and secure, no longer vulnerable to the dangers that have threatened you and restricted your living. It is about hopes and longings being fulfilled, and total satisfaction now and into the future. But it also means the victory that makes this possible. All around those early Christians were temples and religions which claimed to offer some form of release from the troubles of this world and insight into heavenly mysteries, or even earthly pleasures: ‘salvation’.
Christians then, as now, know that life can be a struggle and oppressive. This chant tells us that we need to know that it is God who is the source and sustainer of our lives. Nothing and no-one else – only God.
Saving God, thank you for every way that we experience your salvation, forgiveness, protection, fulfilment in your service and eternal life. Amen.
Thursday February 19 - Join with the angels
...the angels... fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped
God... Revelation 7:11
Please don’t forget the angels! We have been so focused on this amazing vast and enthusiastic crowd of humans who have gone through suffering to victory, or on God’s throne and the Lamb, that we might forget that this vision is also full of divine messengers: angels. There are thousands and tens of thousands of these energetic beings, according to Revelation 5:11-12. They too have a song to sing. But first (v 12) they sing “Amen!” “Amen” means “It is completely true”; “Amen” means “We agree completely and affirm what you have said.”
What is the theme of their song? It is: “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.” Seven amazing qualities, indicating completeness. In other words, everything that is valuable and good in life, and indeed the universe, comes from God. But they not only sing, they embody these words. They fall on their faces and worship God. Their posture, as well as their words, focuses us entirely on God.
We need to sing these songs and breathe in this worship now, because, as we face the disappointments and challenges that today may bring us, we might think and feel that such experiences are the only reality. No; God and his care for us is the truth – hold on to it! “Amen!”
Generous God, we join the angels to thank you and praise you for everything life-giving, beautiful and good in our lives today. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY