Thursday, December 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

Amos 1:1–3:15

Revelation 2:1–17

Psalm 129:1–8

Proverbs 29:19,20

 

 

Do you get excited when you make a new discovery?  How about when you uncover a shortcut to work or a new favorite recipe?  Discoveries bring great joy to life and remind us to look beyond the day-to-day humdrum.

 

Today, when looking over Jesus’s words to the seven churches in Revelation 2, I found myself excited in considering a new discovery:  His promises to each church about the benefit accruing to those who overcome.  These benefits refer to the wonderful gift of heaven for those who have trusted in the risen Christ, “the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25,26)

 

A favorite song of mine, “Overcome” by Jeremy Camp, boldly sings:  “We will overcome/ by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.”  Here, we find the Scriptural parallel for this promise.  These promises accrue not because of our righteousness, but rather because of Christ’s righteousness.  We simply declare our allegiance to our risen King and trust Him for the empowering Spirit, Who gives us the grace to honor God in our earthly life.

 

Also, I noted that Jesus applauds the churches for achieving -- or chides them due to falling short of -- two main goals:  perseverance, passion, and purity.  These qualities only come through a vital connection with God; both are rooted in His character of faithfulness, love, and holiness.  They emerge in the believer through Christ in us, the hope of glory.  We will do well to embrace these characteristics and seek to build them into our lives in increasing measure.

 

As we consider heaven, it is worthwhile to question how much we desire to be in God’s presence.  Without a hunger to experience His presence in this life, we may not appreciate the constancy and clarity of His presence in heaven.  When we desire His presence now, however, we will find “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for overcoming sin and death through Your humble self-sacrifice.  Thank You for opening the pathway for forgiveness and the opportunity to experience God’s presence in our lives now and fully in heaven.  Send Your Spirit to empower us to live  with perseverance, passion, and purity.  To You be all praise, honor, and glory, on earth and in heaven, from everlasting to everlasting!  In Your precious Name, we pray.  Amen.

 

 

“Overcome” by Jeremy Camp:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8AB0vUU038

 

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