SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/12/2015
8:23 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-2 Immediate Obedience
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Revelation
22:7
Message of the
verse: “7 “And behold, I am coming
quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."”
In our last SD we were asking a question as to where are
the references in Revelation that speak of obedience or as this verse puts it “he
who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” John MacArthur writes “What does it mean,
the, to heed the book of Revelation? It
is a general command to long for Christ’s return and our eternal fellowship
with Him. It calls on believers to
desire heaven, to desire holiness, to desire to see Christ vindicated and
triumphant over His enemies, to desire to the end of the curse, and to desire
the glories of Christ’s earthly kingdom, and the new heaven and the new
earth. After reading Revelation, Christians
should love Christ more, long to see Him vindicated in His glory, live in light
of the reality that they will one day see Him, disconnect themselves from the
perishing world system, pursue heavenly realities, seek to be made like Christ,
hope for their resurrection bodies, and anticipate their eternal rewards. They should also understand the fearful
judgment that awaits non-Christians, and call those sinners to repentance and
saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
MacArthur goes on by writing “God does not command believers
to read Revelation merely to satisfy their curiosity about the future. He did not inspire it to provide material for
detailed chronological charts of end-time events. There is a seemingly prophetic schemes
proliferating ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
Bit is was not God’s purpose to give Christians a detailed analysis of the
prophetic significance (if any) of contemporary cultural, political, military,
and social events or trends. God
inspired Revelation for one purpose: to
reveal the glory of His Son and call believers to live godly, obedient lives in
light of His soon return. The purpose of
Revelation is not to provide entertainment, but to provide motivation for godly
living.”
We will complete this rather short Spiritual Diary with
the words of Peter who also wrote on the end times, and who also gave his
reasons for writing on the end times that are found in the last book that he
wrote very close to the end of his life where he and also his wife were
crucified for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter writes “11 Since all these things are
to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy
conduct and godliness, 12 looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will
be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But
according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in
which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent
to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.” Now the things that Peter is referring to are
found earlier in his writings “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but
for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a
thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2
Peter 3:9-10).”
As we read the statements of Peter and also the
statements that John MacArthur wrote we can really see the importance of the
book of Revelation, and that is as they said to live a holy life “13 looking
for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every
lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,
zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:13-14).”
We know that there are many people who have written about the different
possible scenarios of how the things in the book of Revelation will unfold, and
that is okay if they also understand the true reason that the book of
Revelation was written, to bring honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, the
One who deserves all honor and glory, the One who came to earth to do the
bidding of His Father to pay for His bride so that we, his bride can live with
Him forever.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: To live my life
in anticipation of the soon coming of my Lord, Savior, and King. To be obedient to the calling He has given to
me.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord to give me the grace to help
my friend move to their new home without any troubles that I can have when I do
these types of things
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Fear of God” (Proverbs 9:10).
Today’s Bible
question: “What day of the week was set
aside for rest?”
Answer in our next SD.
11/12/2015 8:50 AM
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