Sunday, September 2, which was also my birthday--Revelation chapter two. Maybe it's because I've been taking writing classes, or maybe this is just a stretch, but as John introduces what he's going to be saying to each church, I noticed he uses the sandwich method. He says what wonderful things he knows about the church, then he tells them what horrible thing they've done, and he finishes with what amazing thing is going to happen to them. Experts say to use the sandwich method to keep from alienating people you have to confront. Isn't is cool God thought up that idea long before "How to win friends and influence people" came out?
Monday--Revelation 3. The church of Laodicea has a lot of problems, many of them the same problems that us modern-day people have: we're apathetic, we think we're all that and buttered toast when really we're just buttered toast. I'm so glad God loves us enough to tell us how to repent.
Tuesday--Revelation 4. Well I don't know about you, but if I came face to face with four beasts "full of eyes before and behind", even if I was just in my spirit at the time, I think I would be a bit freaked out. But I think the magnificence of seeing the beautiful rainbow around the throne and watching the 24 elders worship God would be quite worth the fear I would feel when faced with the beasts.
Wednesday--Revelation 5. Verse 12 extolls the greatness of the Lamb, ascribing to Him 7 qualities. By the time I finish the verse, I feel overwhelmed. To understand that Jesus has power, okay, He is God, so He has power. I remember the verse in Matthew--"all power is given unto me". Now add to that riches. Yes, Philippians says God can supply our needs with Jesus' riches. Next is wisdom. If Solomon, the wisest man to ever have lived, didn't even compare to some flowers God made, how much wiser must Jesus be? And we still have strength, honor, glory, and blessing! How wonderful is our Saviour!
Thursday--Revelation 6. The first 6 seals are opened, and boy does it make me glad this all happens after the rapture! The fifth seal talks about the souls of people who were killed for Jesus. Here on earth, even as Christians we are saddened and maybe even disheartened to hear of someone who was martyred for Christ. But these souls were (are) under the altar of God! What a privilege for them, not walking around the golden streets like everyone else. They are right there with the Lamb and the beasts and I guess the elders are still there. I know they don't understand why God hasn't wiped their tormentors off the face of the earth yet, but still.
Friday--Revelation 7. You know, for Revelation having such a bad rap as being the book of horrible gloom and doom, this is yet another chapter that expresses abundantly how wonderful God is. Verse 12 includes a new word--thanksgiving. Instead of just acknowledging that God has blessing, and honor, and power, we should be thankful about it.
Saturday--Revelation 8. I think it's so interesting that for 7 chapters, all these elders and angels and martyrs' souls have been singing praises and glorifying God, and instead of jumping straight into "the earth is being destroyed and people are dying", there was a silent transition of 30 minutes. I wonder why 30, and not 5 or 10. I guess in church, if we had the singing part of the service and then the Pastor walked to the pulpit and just stood there quietly for 30 minutes and THEN he started preaching, (those who are still awake) would probably be VERY interested in what he had to say.