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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 29, 2007 Good News not Bad Predictions |
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Frontline Devotion for Monday, January 29, 2007 by Fritz Foltz
Revelation 4: 1-8 After this I looked, and there in
heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me
like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place
after this.’ At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne,
with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and
cornelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around
the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four
elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from
the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in
front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of
God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like
crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four
living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature
like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature
with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying
eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of
eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy,
holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.’
Pat Robinson recently reported God told him our nation would be attacked at the end of this year by evil people. Apparently God did not specify if the attack would be nuclear, but he did say it would be a national catastrophe killing millions of our people.
One wonders why God would reveal this to him; but even more, why he would report it to the world. We all receive feelings about the future, but few of us are moved to tell others.
He sounds like someone trying hard to impress us that he has an inside track with God. We have had enough of this since the 9-11 attacks. Certainly too many political leaders have used fear to create power for themselves.
We should constantly remind ourselves that our mission is not to predict the future but to proclaim the good news that God loves and cares for us no matter what happens. Come good or come bad, we shall not be separated from his love. We do not need Jesus or Robinson to tell us that there will always be hard times ahead. We do need Jesus to overcome the fear that blurs our vision and confuses our reason as we face that future.
Today’s passage reminds us this applies to the way we read Revelation as well. We can hear a message of fear or one of love. The author obviously intends to strengthen us by assuring us of God’s love. In this very important chapter he pictures all creation, including some rather strange unknown creatures, continually praising God for his love and salvation.
We constantly hear people talking gloom and woe. Let us use our day to spread the good news that gives confidence to people. Let us spread God’s love so people are inspired to build a better tomorrow.
Let us pray: Come, Lord Jesus, bring peace in our hearts, our homes, and our world. Cast out our fears and enable us to follow Jesus wherever he leads us. We pray in his name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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