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Structure and purpose…. (devo reflection)

Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance….

Here God addresses four of the seven churches, addressing each in a similar structure, reminiscent of a “compliment sandwich:” something positive He’s noticed, behavior He wants them to change, future reward for that change.

Revelation 2:3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

However, the nuances go so much deeper. This isn’t a “stick and carrot” letter—act right and get this reward; don’t and get this punishment. It’s much more of a reminder (God KNOWS you. He SEES you. He CARES about what you do and how you act.) and an invitation (See. Listen. Know. Repent. Be rewarded by Your faithful God.)

Revelation 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

Lord, Thank You for being with me as I read Revelation, for opening my eyes to structure and purpose, for drawing me closer to You. Amen.

Revelation 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Have a blessed day.

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To see, to know, and to understand…. (devo reflection)

Revelation 1:1 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….

I approached this morning’s reading with some trepidation. Revelation, in my mind, has always been mysterious, elusive, and frightening. I’ve never intentionally read and studied this book before, but those were my solid impressions.

Revelation 1:3 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.

But God. As I watched the summary video of the book of Revelation, I was reminded that this book, as with so many others, began as a letter to seven churches to address certain issues occurring at the time. For some reason, that familiar structure brings me great comfort as I begin this book.

Revelation 1:4 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….

Precious Savior, Thank You for meeting me each morning, for understanding my fears and concerns, for sending me comfort and assurance. Be with me as I read and study this chapter. Help me to see, to know, and to understand Your word. Amen.

Revelation 1:10-11 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Have a blessed day.

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Put God first…. (devo reflection)

Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words….
I have always been taught to put God first in my life, that I should love God before all others. As a child, I struggled with the thought that I should love God more than my parents. They brought me into this world. They fed, clothed, and guided me. How could I love God more? It was a difficult concept to wrap my head around. As an adult, I understand more fully that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17).
Exodus 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
I have prayed fervently for those whom I love who were sick, prayed that God would heal them here, prayed that as much as I love them, I know that He loves them more and wants what’s best for them, prayed that He would give me the strength to carry on if He called them Home to Him for healing. That’s why God has to come first. That’s why He has to be the Alpha and the Omega in my life, the Beginning and the End (Rev 21:6). It doesn’t mean that life, death, and loss will be any easier or will make any more sense, it just means we know we can trust the One who holds us securely in the palm of His hand.
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (NIV)
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are my beginning and my end, that You are my center, You hold me together. Thank You that having You at my core means that I can trust You explicitly, even when I am confused, even when I am afraid, even when life makes no sense. Thank You for the precious people You have placed in my life, people You love even more than I do. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Exodus 20:3 “Do not worship any god except Me.” (CEV)
Have a blessed day.

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Not through my own efforts…. (devo reflection)

Rev 3:10 “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently….”
I try diligently not to pull out partial scripture when I write my reflections, but as I was reading this morning, thinking about my anxiety and grumpiness in the last week, thinking about yesterday, which really was a good day, I was struck by this passage in Revelation. If I had to give myself a grade for patient endurance to God’s call for me this past week, I would definitely have failed. Thankfully, my precious Savior applies much more grace and mercy to my shortcomings than I show myself. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 1:21 For God in His wisdom made it impossible for people to know Him by means of their own wisdom….
My Savior knows He created me to try to understand—why something happened, what something means, why I keep making mistakes and missteps when I want so much to please my Savior and bring Him glory. 1 Cor 1:21 helps me see the value in the seeking. I will never fully know my Creator through my own efforts, but every day, with every quest for understanding, I feel I get to know Him just a little bit better. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Cor 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for my inquisitive nature, for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for allowing me to seek You daily, understanding pieces of You and of myself just a smidge better with every attempt. Thank You that You cannot be fully known, fully understood, through my own efforts. Thank You that one glorious day, when we stand face to face, that I will see everything clearly. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Have a blessed day.

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Strength and encouragement…. (devo reflection)

Rev 3:8a …See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut….
I am a firm believer that if I seek God’s direction and pay attention, He WILL direct me in the way that I should go. I still haven’t gotten the unmistakably clear flashing neon signs that I would love to see, but I have seen Him close doors firmly and open doors wide that seem to indicate the way that He would have me to go. Thank You, Jesus.
Rev 3:8b …I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.
That doesn’t mean the path is easy. And I am bad for allowing myself to get overwhelmed with the scope of the work that He’s calling me to do, but my precious, faithful Savior strengthens me for whatever task He’s called me to do. Sometimes He calls me to physical tasks like feeding, comforting, or educating His children. Sometimes He calls me to persevere in difficult situations. Regardless of what He’s called me to, He can use ALL things to encourage His people in ways I can’t even imagine. Thank You, Jesus! 
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for guiding and directing me as I seek to do Your will. Thank You for giving me strength and encouragement for whatever task You call me to. Thank You for using my words, my thoughts, and my actions to uplift and encourage others in ways I cannot even fathom. Draw me closer. Help me to shine Your light. Amen.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Have a blessed day.

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Answer the door…. (devo reflection)

Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…. (NIV)
I have felt the sting of separation. For much of my life, I have been plagued with vague feelings of not fitting in with the rest of the crowd, of not belonging when everyone else clearly seems to feel like they belong. Two observations: 1. If someone FEELS separated, they will BE separated, even if they aren’t. Perception absolutely becomes reality until that false perception can be broken. 2. Everyone, at some time, in some way, feels that sting of separation, even when it isn’t real. 
Rev 3:20 Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (NLT)
Rev 3:20 spoke to my heart this morning, to that little piece of me that has never felt like enough, never felt like I belonged. Jesus’s inclusive love, inclusive invitation, is for EVERYONE. He IS knocking. He WANTS a relationship—with me, with YOU, with all of us. But it must be an intentional relationship. You can’t just holler, “Door’s open! Come on in!” You’ve got to ANSWER the door and then sit down and eat with our Savior. Be in relationship WITH Him. Thank You, Jesus.
Rev 3:20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in… (CSB)
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for Your inclusiveness. Thank You for knocking, for Your perseverance, for Your desire for relationship with us. Thank You that we are Your deeply loved children and for the sense of belonging that comes from that. Draw us closer to You as we reach out to others. Amen.
Matt 7:7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Have a blessed day.

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Valuing people over possessions…. (devo reflection)

Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Our culture values stuff. The premise of almost any commercial is “If you buy this product, your life will be enriched.” Therefore, it is not surprising to me that every semester when I talk to students about future careers, there is always at least one who doesn’t care what he does as long as he “makes bank.” Most everything in our culture indicates that money means happiness, or at the very least, having money means you can buy happiness.
1 Cor 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
I wonder what would happen if, as a culture, we shifted our focus away from making money and acquiring things and toward loving others? What if, instead of chasing after the almighty dollar, we chased after others, showering them with love and compassion? I almost can’t imagine such a world, but wouldn’t it be astounding to witness?
Psalm 22:19 But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for these thoughts that I will continue to ponder in my heart. Help me as an individual and help our culture to value people over possessions, to value helping others over “making bank.” Draw us closer to You. Remake us in Your imagine. Amen.
Luke 1:46-47 … “My soul glorifies the LORD and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior….”
Have a blessed day.

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Lukewarm…. (devo reflection)

Rev 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other!
Our dog Joy is a mess. When she wants her belly scratched, she will get in the recliner beside you, sit on her haunches, and throw herself backward into your arms, exposing her belly for scratching. Ready or not, here she comes! There is nothing lukewarm about her actions. They declare, “Here I am! Love me!”
Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth.
God wants that kind of enthusiasm from us as well. He doesn’t want lukewarm Christians. He wants us to be bold in our actions for Him. He wants us to be radical in our love for His people, ALL His people, not just the ones society deems acceptable. Help me, Jesus!
Rev 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You do not want us to be lukewarm, which speaks of a lack of commitment. Help us not to rest in the comfort of our lives, our possessions, the trappings of this world. Help us to be on fire for You. Help us to be bold in Your name and to point others to Your fierce love of us all, to Your amazing grace and mercy. Draw us closer. Amen.
Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock….
Have a blessed day.