January 30, 2024 -- Revelation 22:21 -- The grace of Jesus
/The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Revelation 22:21 ESV
Pictured at the very end of the Revelation of John is the glory of heaven. The river of the water of life will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb. What glories will result as this precious flood nurtures the tree of life, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nations. God Himself will be the Light of His people and the light of the city.
Then chapter 22 gives the final summary—evil doers, despite the glories to come and the anticipated splendour, will still do evil and the filthy will still be filthy. What is amazing is that those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are those whose deeds and works were evil and filthy. It is the Lamb Himself, Who has been slain, Whose blood has been spilled so that the formerly evil and filthy are now reconciled to God. Believers who read these words know they are unworthy. They know their deeds. They know their past and would be shamed, thoroughly humiliated and looking for rocks to fall on them if their lives would be broadcast to the world. What makes the difference between those who are evil and filthy and those formerly filthy and evil whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life?
It is the grace of the Lord Jesus. Men and women who see the extent of their evil and filthiness and cry out to Jesus, help me! Clean me! Make me pure within! Interestingly, it is by the Spirit of God that men and women realize their wretched condition. It is the Spirit of God, the same Spirit poured out by the Father and the Son upon the people, so that men and women crying out and appealing to the grace of Jesus will be marked with the grace of Jesus Christ—His atoning blood—this Spirit makes men and women long to be completely changed inside and out.
It is the grace of the Lord Jesus—He Who is fully God and fully man—Who in obedience to His Father’s decree uttered before the creation of the world left His place at the Father’s right hand and the deep throne-room fellowship with the Holy Spirit in order to take on flesh and blood so that He could be our Redeemer and King.
It is the grace of the Lord Jesus sealed to us by the Holy Spirit, His grace that leads us to ever deeper anticipation of healing here on earth and the final healing and the full restoration of our God-designed humanity in heaven. It is His grace, which will cover us through-out eternity, so that beholding Him face to face our hearts rejoice, forever, in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Father in heaven how great and faithful is Your love for Your people. Thank You for the great grace of Jesus Christ. Spirit of the Living God, Deposit Guaranteeing our eternal inheritance in Christ, move us to declare the love of our Father which is so magnificently revealed in the grace of the Lord Jesus, to declare this love to friends and family, neighbours and coworkers. Spirit of the Living God refresh missionaries and evangelists this day so that they will witness to Jesus to the glory of the Father. Oh Triune God, gather men and women from the North and the South, the East and the West, fill up to full measure of those whom You have chosen for glory and bring to each one Your holy healing. Amen.
https://youtu.be/HsCp5LG_zNE?si=br5zccZj-D7IqtpY “Amazing Grace” Celtic Women
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