9 May ESOCS Devotional
TEXT: REVELATION 1:8-20
MEMORY VERSE
“Write then, the things you see both the things that are now and the things that will happen afterward.” Revelation 1:19
Apostle John wrote the Revelation to the seven Churches in Western Asia Minor. It was a time of great persecution of the Churches and killing of the Christians. From his prison home in the Island of Patmos, John wrote to encourage the faithful to stand firm against persecution and compromise in the light of the imminent return of Christ. In our text today, the Lord emphasizes that John must keep record of everything he sees or hears from Him at all times.
One thing is clear, the wonders of the Lord’s grace and wisdom, which He teaches His servants are not only meant for the immediate beneficiary. It is meant to help generations to come and understand who God is. Today, we enjoy the use of Psalms because David and others kept records of their prayers and songs. This is the tradition that Jesus Christ commanded John to keep. In verse 11, He said, “……write down what you see and send the book to the Churches….”
The record that John kept in this text is a source of succor for Christians today, as it was for the brethren in the seven Churches. One is consoled reading of the patience exhibited by John when he was troubled by the emperor and miracle of Jesus Christ speaking to him while he suffered in prison. Without these records, we would have lost them and not be blessed in reading of the encounter of John with the Alpha and Omega. In verses 9-10 we read, “I am John your brother, and as a follower of Jesus I am your partner in patiently enduring the suffering that comes to those who belong to his kingdom. I was put on the Island of Patmos because I had to proclaimed God’s word and the truth that Jesus revealed. On the Lord’s day, the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a loud voice…..”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Both individuals and the Churches administration must learn to keep a record of key prophesies, miracles, and evangelical exploits. Our heirs must know and learn from the wonders of the grace of God in our lives. We should put and stored such records in the best format, save and properly hand them over to the next generation.
The revelation of Jesus Christ to John was written about 95 years after the death of Jesus Christ. From that age until date. Church fathers and administrators in the Christian faith have preserved them. We must not let the knowledge we receive from our encounter with God die with us. We have a duty to pass them to the next generation. In verse 19 of our text, the Lord gave the command thus: “Write then, the things you see, both the things that are now and the things that will happened afterward.”
It is instructive that we begin now to keep records both as a Church and individually. Our Church is the Church of Christ. The angel of God is present in every Branch, guarding and perfecting the work of God. The Spirit of God is steadily at work in the lives of the chosen ones. There should be records of their activities. Keep those records safe and known.
9 May ESOCS Devotional – CHALLENGES
√ What records do you keep as a servant of God?
PRAYER POINT
√ Lord, use me as an instrument for signs and wonders.
√ I will keep the records and testify of them, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
FURTHER READING
√ Ruth 3:1-18; 4:1-10; Revelation 2:1-12
