The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said” The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign forever and forever.’’
TO PONDER:
In the book of Revelation, this seventh trumpet was the last to be sounded, and the angels and elders and possibly John (who received the revelation) may have been a bit apprehensive. The previous six dealt with the sins of the churches followed by plagues. However, the reaction this time was ‘loud voices’ in heaven, perhaps they were singing loudly (imagine the most perfect rendition of the Hallelujah chorus that causes the audience to rise to its feet magnified ten thousand times!) but their message was very clear God, with Jesus, would rule this world.
We weep and fret at the state of this world, inequity and greed, violence, the breakup of families, the lack of hope for many people, poverty and hunger, wars because people cannot agree or covet another country to gain more power; it's an endless list, even our churches are not immune to such things. The world has many smaller ‘kingdoms’ created by those who stand to benefit from the misery and hopelessness of those affected by these kingdoms and structures. God is love and does not tolerate any behaviour that is not about loving and caring for one another.
We don’t know exactly what this Kingdom of God and his Christ will be like and we certainly don’t know when God will make his move, but we have a role to play while we wait; we need to seek to follow Jesus’ way to live, and to love and teach as he did, pray for his guidance and help in situations, and then don’t be surprised by what he asks you to do!!
PRAYER: Thank you, Father God for your word, for the comfort and hope it gives me when events in the world or even in my own community distress and sadden me. Show and help me to do what you want me to ease someone’s pain or burden. May I never loose sight of your goodness to me, may I not be selfish and share your good gifts to me with those in need. Amen
Today's devotion by Maureen MacPherson, LifeWay Newcastle
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
TO PONDER
Jesus entered this world in a very humble manner and his birth announced to simple shepherds who then spread the news. Likewise, Jesus sometimes enters our hearts quietly as we accept him as our Saviour. Today we read it will be different when Jesus returns to take believers to heaven. In all his majesty and glory, he will come, a shout or command like one not heard before, like a general urging his troops to battle, the trumpet call that could sound like thunder heralding God’s majestic presence, and his mission to take believers to heaven to live with him in eternity.
God has planned how this will work, the dead will rise first and then those who are alive will meet him in the clouds, [v 17] but what a terrifying time this will be for those still living and waiting for what happens next. Scripture tells us that not all believers will be taken up, examples are given of two people doing God’s work but on that last day being separated, Matthew 24:40-41, gives two examples of people working but only one being taken, and we all know the story of the ten virgins, and Elijah and Elisha.
We do not know when this will happen but we can still get ready. Just as we check and double check that everything is in order for a trip we have planned, is everything in order for this last trip God has planned for us? We know our destination, but as we do not know the departure date or time, we must always be at the ready. We need to surrender every part of our lives to Jesus. It is not just a case of accepting Jesus as our Saviour, we have to give him lordship of our lives. We might live for the Lord most of the time, believing that is enough, but we need to allow the Holy Spirit to completely fill our lives and surrender everything to him, letting go of the security blankets that just weigh us down.
PRAYER: Lord God you are the Creator of all in this world and the universe and I believe that you will come again at a time you have already decided, with a fanfare never heard before but fitting for who you are. Please help me be ready for this event in every thing I do each day because I do not know the day or the hour. May your Holy Spirit help me to surrender every part of my life to Jesus not holding anything back. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen MacPherson, LifeWay Newcastle
“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”
TO PONDER:
I have a little pin box I once made in a pottery class. Despite repeated efforts, I could not get a smooth, even bottom, hence it is a bit wonky. However, the lid fits snuggly so it serves its purpose well. It is also a pretty blue/green colour, quite beautiful to look at. When I look at it, I am reminded that God originally created Adam, and thus us, from the earth, and can still mold us to be whatever he wishes, just as the potter does, if he sees a blemish he can rework it, life’s unexpected hardships, like the potter’s kiln, can serve to harden us do deal with life issues and our resolve to draw closer to God.
God doesn’t create rubbish, we should never give in to wishing for some change in our appearance or other aspect of our self; we are valuable in God’s sight, we are created as an honourable people to serve him in exactly the way he chooses. That little pin box might not sit on the table as one expects it to, but is very useful and lovely to look at. That’s us, a bit rough around the edges but we are made in God’s image and when we serve him in the way he has planned, we have a beauty that radiates and can draw people in to want to know more about God and how their lives can be changed by believing in him.
Sometimes we can be inclined to feel that what we are doing or saying isn’t good enough, perhaps we have got it wrong. Remember that this loving, powerful, creative God, created us in our mother’s womb, we were written into the Book of Life before we were born and God doesn’t make mistakes, he has crafted us into vessels of honour fit for his use.
PRAYER:Creative God I thank you that you have created me to serve you, that you can remold me when blemishes appear and make me into a valuable vessel of honour to serve you as you have chosen me to do, so that others may come to know you. Amen
Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
TO PONDER
This is a verse from Revelation, that often-misunderstood book. In a nutshell, Revelation is a book about worship, and gives us a glimpse of heaven.
And it’s a comforting snap-shop of heaven, and I can’t wait!
The best thing is that (verse 3) God himself will be there. God will be there getting things ready. God will be there preparing a spot for us. God will be a resident of this place.
And one of his roles will be to remind us that death is gone for good! There will never be anything to worry about. All of those things in life that we experience now such as pain, or grief, or sorrow, or sadness, or anxiety, or stress, or anguish, or torture, or agony, or misery, or torment, or depression, or the blues, or fear, or worry, or being concerned, or being uncomfortable, or disturbed, or troubled, or being bothered, will be eliminated.
We have this amazing gift waiting for us.
That is worth telling others about.
PRAYER: What a joy awaits us Lord, and we thank you. Guide in this life and amongst our friends and family to share a little of what heaven will be like with them. Thank you for letting us lift up the flap of the curtain to heaven and have a sneak-preview of the best that is yet to come. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
TO PONDER
Have you heard the term, ‘a nice hurt’? or ‘a good hurt’? Sometime when I’ve physically overexerted myself at something, I feel weary. In fact, it’s more than weary. Some of my muscles are hurting. Some of the parts of my body that haven’t been used much, are in pain. After a game of football, it is hard to get up the next day. But I don’t mind, because you know you’ve worked hard, probably enjoyed it, and the ‘reward’ (if one can use that phrase), is the pain. That’s what I call a ‘good hurt’. Often, it’s referred to as ‘no pain, no gain’. I get it. Some people don’t. My wife doesn’t understand that thinking.
I wonder if that’s what Peter means in today’s text. He is of course referring to the life of a disciple. To living an obedient and faithful life. He knows full well, that being a person of faith will have its trials. He knows that there will be problems to overcome, anxiety to deal with, persecution to handle, and grief to manage. Yet he reminds us to rejoice. We can rejoice because we have life everlasting and are forgiven. But get ready for the tough stuff. It will find us if we are obedient to God. We don’t ask for the trials, but they will appear. So be reminded that Jesus went through the worst trial for you, so you could deal with whatever life throws at you.
PRAYER: Prince of Peace, we ask for your peace in all the hard stuff we come across. When the going gets tough, stick with us. When life seems hard, walk with us. When we are grieving, comfort us. Thank you for your presence in our lives. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.
TO PONDER
A troubling verse for some. Possibly even the shortest verse in the bible in some translations. ‘Jesus wept’. And so far removed from the line in the popular Christmas carol, ‘Away in a Manager, when it says, ‘the little Lord Jesus no crying he makes’.
One of the reasons that God sent Jesus to earth was to experience what we go through. To feel what it is to be human. To understand what emotions are. And we see in scripture (and if you’ve watched ‘The Chosen), that Jesus had a sense of humour, and he did get angry, and he did get frustrated, and he did get sad, and he did get tired.
It’s an example we can follow. Jesus wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. And maybe this is a bigger message for the men out there. For those that think that crying is only for the weak, Jesus, a bloke, cried.
Thank God for that. Thank God that a male was not afraid to show his emotions to those around him. That a man actually showed how strong he was, because he was not afraid of the kick-back.
God knows how you feel at all times and shares any hurt you have.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us how to live, for showing us how to connect, for showing us that you know how we feel at all times. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
TO PONDER
Turning grief to joy…how cool. But is it possible?
You’ll know that one of my interest, which often appears in my writing, is sport. Sport is one of those things where grief can quickly turn into joy.
From having a lousy round of golf, until your chip or putt unexpectedly goes in the hole. From chasing leather all day in 45-degree heat, until the final over of the cricket match, when the bowler takes three wickets. From being behind all game in basketball, until the final second when someone lands a three-pointer.
In these circumstances, the day hadn’t been going well. Mentally you had given up. You knew there was no way you would win from the position you were in…and yet, somehow you did. From feeling awful, to feeling fantastic.
This is also a reminder of what happens for people of faith after our time on earth is over. This text is sometimes used at funerals. For people of faith, a funeral of a loved one is a sad time. It most certainly is a time for grieving, but there is also a hint of rejoicing. You won’t feel like rejoicing, but you will know that the promise from God is that you will see that person again.
PRAYER:Comforter of all, thank you for emotions. Thank you that we can express how we feel, and that you have provided ways and people to help us deal with those emotions. Thank you for being a relational God. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
TO PONDER
Can you have too much instruction? Not if it’s for your benefit. Usually, the instruction is for our own good. When I was in the classroom, children would sometimes complain about the rules. They would whine about the strictness of the classroom laws. This was usually after they’d broken one and were probably being sent from the class to the principal’s office.
There’s no point in being angry at the lawbreaker, and I would always try and explain why we had these rules. I would tell them that the rules were there, the instructions were there, because we loved them.
That stopped them in their tracks, because they would have been thinking ‘if you love me, why are you stopping me doing what I want?’ I’d go on. We want to keep you safe. We don’t want you hurting yourself or others. We want to help you to learn – even if you don’t want to – so that’s why these rules or instructions might seem harsh. They are there to help you.
Proverbs is a book of the bible there to keep us on the straight and narrow. To help us with the relational things in life, such as friendships and employment. And also, to help us grow. God wants to look after us, so we can answer the call of his, to care for others. It’s as simple as that.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us an instruction book on how to follow you, and live as your children. We don’t always get it right, so please forgive us when we muck up. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
TO PONDER
We generally use our motor vehicles to get us from one location to another. We have a route determined beforehand that we plan to follow. To date we don’t yet have practical autonomous vehicles that drive themselves, so we have to be actively involved in directing the vehicle along the planned route. Even on a straight road we need to be continually correcting the direction the vehicle is taking, otherwise it will veer off the road which could be quite dangerous.
In some ways, our lives are similar. God has a plan for our lives that includes taking us from the person we are today to a person more like His Son Jesus. This is a life-long process. It begins as we respond to God’s invitation and agree to surrender our lives to God’s plan for us. The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us on the journey. But like the car, we have a strong tendency to wander off from the directions God is giving us. And as we wander off, we get hurt and damaged and need repairs. God then takes on a role similar to the tow-truck driver and panel beater to get us healed and back on the road.
But, of course, there are other “fun” things that a car can be used for, like street racing and doing burn-outs. Because of the potential for causing injury to people and property by these activities, they have been made illegal. Similarly, in our lives, there are lots of “fun” activities that can attract us away from God’s plan for us. Now God is definitely not a 'kill joy'. He designed us to enjoy life and Jesus definitely joined in the celebrations of life while he lived here on earth. However, activities that we may be enjoying to the detriment of others is not part of God’s plan. Rather, his plan is that we consider others and work towards their enjoyment of life, trusting that God would bless us with his joy while we are doing this. So, when we start getting off track, our loving God will work in the way he knows best to get us back on the route he has pre-planned for us.
What an awesome God we have who is so committed to us living life to the full and enjoying the journey he is taking us on.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us to repentance, washing us clean in our baptism and giving us a new birth into your heavenly family. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit to be our guide in life, especially as you continually guide us back onto the path that leads us to eternal celebration with you in Heaven. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Charles Bertelsmeier, LifeWay Epping