The Bible180 challenge, week 26

In just a few days, we will close our Bibles on the last page of Revelation - on the glorious end to the incredible story, the greatest story ever told.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

- Revelation 19:11-16

This is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible, one that I open to again and again when I need my perspective shifted from what is dead and earthly to what is living and forever. I love what it tells me about my Lord and who He is.

In the space of six verses, He has four names -

He is called Faithful and True; He's worthy of my complete trust.
He has a name that only He knows; He is beyond all comprehension.
He is The Word of God; He perfectly embodies the Truth, and acts as God's incarnate message to humanity - "This is who I AM."
And written into His very body is the title, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no higher authority in heaven or on earth.

He came once as a helpless human baby. This time He comes as a conqueror, astride a conqueror's steed; as royalty, ruler, and soldier, the Lord of Hosts.

He came once to bring the Word as the source of life. This time He carries it as a sword that can put whole nations to death. "In righteousness He judges and wages war" (verse 11).

He came once as the pure and spotless Lamb of God. This time, there is blood on His robe - a reminder that the Lamb was slain on behalf of the armies that follow Him.

This is The Word of God.

It's not a dusty old book, a collection of ancient myths, or even a textbook on godly living.

It is the living message of God to both the physical and spiritual worlds, the breathing story of who He is and what He has done. It is the slain Lamb and the great Lion, the Messiah who is both God and man, the gracious Redeemer and the righteous Judge.

The Word is alive, and He is offering us so much grace time to choose to obey Him. But when He comes again, He comes with a sword.

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star."
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. . . .
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:16-17, 20

 

Resources

1 & 2 Peter: God of the Persecuted

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 30 minutes

1, 2, 3 John: God of Love & Truth

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 20 minutes

Jude: God of Protection 

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 5 minutes

Revelation: God of Eternity

Genre: Prophecy
Read time: 1.25 hours

The Bible180 challenge, week 24

Today, my words are few - because there are words far more precious than mine, far more encouraging and life-giving, in God's Word.

I have a hard time choosing a favorite book of the Bible, and it seems to get harder every time I read through it - but I think, at least recently, this is my favorite chapter. It's my goal to memorize the whole thing one day.

God is so good.

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Romans 8

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Praise the Lord!

Resources

Romans: God of Righteousness

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 1 hour

1 Corinthians: God of Holiness

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 1 hour

2 Corinthians: God of Weakness

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 40 minutes

Ephesians: God of Unity

Genre: Prescriptive
Read time: 20 minutes