My whole family is in an in-depth Revelation Bible study this year (including my parents, sister, niece and nephew)! It’s been a joy to focus on so many different attributes of Jesus. In praying about the main attribute to highlight in each of these upcoming Revelation devotionals, Jesus’s worthiness stood out to me. He’s worthy as the eternal, Son of God, who paid for our sins and vindicated sin and death by His resurrection. John began his letter to the churches by reminding them of all these aspects of Jesus’s worthiness!
Revelation
1:1-6 The revelation from
Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take
place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who
testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony
of Jesus Christ. 3 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, because the time is near.
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of
Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is,
and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before
his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the
kings of the earth.
To him who loves
us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and
has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him
be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Seven is a number of completeness
or wholeness in the Bible. The seven churches were actual, literal, and physical
churches in Asia. However, the encouragement and instruction given to them is
applicable to all churches and all people throughout the centuries.
We won’t understand all of the
teachings in the book of Revelation, especially those concerning the end times.
John made clear in these first few verses, though, that the truths in
Revelation hold the keys to blessing, comfort, confidence, encouragement and
perseverance. John ended this section with the reminder that we are not freed from sin to serve self, but to serve God!
In fact, I found another “7” in these first few verses – this book of Revelation was from God, to Jesus, to the angel, to John, to the churches, to us and to others. As we take to heart these truths and share them with others, we complete the circle of 7! We will be blessed, fulfill God’s purposes and bring Him glory as we serve Him!
When I genuinely believe Jesus is worthy
of all, as John beautifully described, I will be propelled to serve Him. Where
are you and I motivated to serve, by this deeper understanding of our worthy
Savior?
