Monday, November 7, 2022

 

Monday, November 7, 2022


Psalm 19

Jonah 1

Revelation 3:1-6


May the words of my lips and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight: O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.


For those of us who worship in mainline denominations, Jesus’ letter to Sardis hits particularly close to home. Our Lord knows our works, and that we have a reputation for being alive: but we are dead. Our clergy are well looked after, and our congregations sponsor innumerable missionary and local outreach organisations. Jesus knows our works. But, He says, we are dead. Unhappy with this situation, Jesus proclaims in a loud voice the same thing He said to the little girl who lay dead: “Wake up!”


That which brings us life He explains perfectly clearly: we must remember what we received and heard. Good works mean nothing to Jesus if they are not done in the spirit of faith, and our faith in Him is what He holds most precious.


The Lord Jesus is to be raised up by all of us who love Him. We are to point to Him, His saving work, our sin which led Him there, and the love He displays by going through our death to bring us into His life. This is the glory of God, and everyone knows it because God’s glory is plain for everyone to see: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork”. To reject God’s glory is to reject the truth of Jesus, and He will come like a thief in the night and bring His enemies to the bar of justice. Our only protection from God’s judgement is to trust that God’s judgement was revealed and fulfilled on the head of Jesus as He hung on the cross, for us.


Look at how prescient the pagan sailors were in their prayer for safety: “Please, O LORD, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood; for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” Wash us in the blood of the innocent Lamb, O Lord, that was slain for us, so that we too may be clean and righteous in your sight. And may we never lose sight of our precious Jesus, and never cease to proclaim your glorious love to the world.





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