The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 19:6-8,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"'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.' (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)"
This doxology, given by what John said sounded like a great multitude, was like a deafening roar of rushing water. It begins with "Hallelujah!", as an expression of praise and joy (as opposed to its often use as an injunction to praise God, which follows). It attends the anticipation of the betrothal of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) with his bride (the church).
In this explosive outburst of effusive and unrestrained worship and praise, the observation is made that the bride, the church, was given "fine linen, bright and clean" to wear. John makes the comment that the fine linen represents "the righteous acts of God's holy people."
These "righteous acts" point to the work, the activities that God has given his people to pursue. It is within the pursuit of these "righteous acts" we find meaning in life, purpose in life, fulfillment and satisfaction. It is here we find contentment and gratification, enjoyment, happiness and pleasure.
These "righteous acts" do not bring us eternal life and do not make us members of the bride of Christ. These "righteous acts" are given to those who are already members of the bride of Christ. Becoming a member of this bride comes from embracing Jesus Christ in faith. Those who have done so are then given things to do which bring meaning to life. We participate in something that is bigger and beyond us, something that brings purpose in life like nothing else: participating in God's grand agenda!
Those of us who have embraced the Lord in faith share in things to do in this life that the Lord has asked of us. I am certainly convinced that we will have the same in the age to follow. We won't be wallowing in boredom in the resurrection, looking around for things to do - we will have those things that will continue to provide meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction for an eternity!
This doxology, given by what John said sounded like a great multitude, was like a deafening roar of rushing water. It begins with "Hallelujah!", as an expression of praise and joy (as opposed to its often use as an injunction to praise God, which follows). It attends the anticipation of the betrothal of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) with his bride (the church).
In this explosive outburst of effusive and unrestrained worship and praise, the observation is made that the bride, the church, was given "fine linen, bright and clean" to wear. John makes the comment that the fine linen represents "the righteous acts of God's holy people."
These "righteous acts" point to the work, the activities that God has given his people to pursue. It is within the pursuit of these "righteous acts" we find meaning in life, purpose in life, fulfillment and satisfaction. It is here we find contentment and gratification, enjoyment, happiness and pleasure.
These "righteous acts" do not bring us eternal life and do not make us members of the bride of Christ. These "righteous acts" are given to those who are already members of the bride of Christ. Becoming a member of this bride comes from embracing Jesus Christ in faith. Those who have done so are then given things to do which bring meaning to life. We participate in something that is bigger and beyond us, something that brings purpose in life like nothing else: participating in God's grand agenda!
Those of us who have embraced the Lord in faith share in things to do in this life that the Lord has asked of us. I am certainly convinced that we will have the same in the age to follow. We won't be wallowing in boredom in the resurrection, looking around for things to do - we will have those things that will continue to provide meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction for an eternity!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment