He Was Dead Yet Lives

Revelation 1:4-18 KJV

Rejoice And Be Glad

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

                                                      Rev 19:6b-8 KJV

We have a lot to rejoice in. St. John was exiled on Patmos for his faith; but, he did not give up hope. St. Paul spent a great deal of time in prison and even on his way to his death; he did not give up hope. The many saints before us never gave up hope. In faith that they have been washed by the blood of the lamb; they looked to the day when they would be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord Jesus the Christ in the very home that Christ has prepared for us.

Life can be pretty confusing and tough at times. In those times we remember that today will pass and tomorrow will come whether we are here in this world or in the Kingdom prepared for us. For all who believe in Jesus and his gifts of forgiveness and salvation for us, life will go on. It is eternal.

By the blood of Jesus we have been cleansed and reconciled to God and to one another even now. So, rejoice and be glad and give God the glory! Give God the glory in all that you say and think and do. Whatever you do, do it as if to the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rejoice!

"Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear."
                                          Rev 19:6b-8

We have a lot to rejoice in. St. John, exiled on Patmos for his faith, did not give up hope. St. Paul did not give up hope. The many saints before us never gave up hope. They looked to the day when they would be reconciled to God our Father and our Lord Jesus the Christ in the home that Christ prepared for us.

Life can be pretty confusing and tough at times. In tough times, it is well to remember, that today will pass and tomorrow will come whether we are here in this world or in the Kingdom prepared for us. For all who believe in Jesus and his gifts of forgiveness and salvation for us, life will go on. It is eternal.

By the blood of Jesus the Christ we have been reconciled to God and one another even now. So, rejoice and be glad and give God the glory! Give God the glory in all that you say and think and do. Whatever you do, do it as if to the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Proclaim The Gospel With Spiritual Fervor

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:10-11 NIV

As I grow older, I find myself pondering more and more about the time that I have wasted not being zealous in serving the Lord. We have been studying Paul's letter to the Romans in Bible Study on Sunday mornings. St. Paul's zealousness never fails to amaze me. And, even as his spiritual fervor amazes me; my past lack of it leaves me wondering how I or anyone who confesses Jesus could possibly be less enthusiastic about the Good News than he. No matter what trials or tribulations St. Paul endured; he did not become less ardent in his proclamation, he became bolder. Why then can we who suffer so little in comparison to the many who have given their life for the Gospel of Jesus be so lukewarm?

I wake up each morning completely aware of how lukewarm Christianity has become in so many churches; in so many homes. In the vision of St. John on Patmos, the angel of the Lord told him to warn the people of Laodicea:  "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16)   

The church in many parts of this earth has become lukewarm. We are without spiritual fervor, except maybe on Sunday mornings. Often, during the rest of the week, our ego-driven false gods take center stage. Christianity is more than a Sunday morning ritual. It is a way of life. It is a way of being.

May God help us to be zealous in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord so that others may hear and believe.

God's Peace - Pr. J