October 2, 2024

In 2024, we will strive to become more like Jesus by rediscovering the ancient practices of prayer, study, sabbath, celebration, and many more. Our knowledge of scripture, coupled with studying how Jesus lived his life while on earth, will help us become people that overflow with the goodness of God. Wednesday email devotionals will highlight the practices that have been discussed on the previous Sunday.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

 

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

 

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

 

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

 

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

 

I answered, “Sir, you know.”

 

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore,

 

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

 

Revelation 7:9-17

Devotional

In Revelation 7:9-17, we see a beautiful image of God’s faithfulness to his people and their response of giving him praise. God’s people serve him because he is generous with his love for them. They are responding to the greatest gift of God’s generosity: salvation through Christ. But God’s generosity goes even further than this.

 

When I think about service and generosity, my mind usually turns to money and time. It’s easy to think about how generosity looks like loosening our purse strings and service looks like caring for members of our community (even Florida football fans). I don’t immediately look at this scripture and think about generosity and service, but when you take a closer look, you see the incredible generosity of God on full display. He clothes his people in white robes and gives them palm branches, symbolizing purity and provision. He leads them to springs of living water and wipes away every tear from their eyes. What could be more generous than this? It is no wonder that the people serve him day and night in his temple (verse 15). God’s generosity moves them in powerful ways.

 

When I think about this concept in my life, I always come back to gratitude. This might sound like a churchy word that gets used too often, but when I take the time to remember to be grateful for the ways that God has been generous to me, my heart moves closer to serving him. When my flesh tries to convince me that serving God is a burden or an inconvenience, gratitude makes those feelings fade away. The “amen” of my praise to the living God rings through every area of my life and I seek to serve him (verse 12).

 

What would it look like for us to do the same together this week? Serving God doesn’t have to look the same for everyone, but we can all find ways to let our “amen” ring throughout every corner of our lives. Try it this week and see where the Lord leads you!

For Reflection

How has God been generous with you and where can you express gratitude to him?


How can remembering God’s generosity toward you move you toward serving him today?

Prayer

Father God, you are so generous with me. The salvation you have given us through your Son is the greatest expression of this generosity, and I pray that it will spill over into every area of my life today so that I can give thanks to you and serve you as I walk in your Word. Thank you for loving me and for your promises that will always be true. Amen.

Rev. Wes Nichols
Pastor for Belong