DEVOTION: Revelation 7:9-17 (ESV)
"A Great Multitude from Every Nation"
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 "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.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Once again, as I read this, tears come to my eyes as I think of all of my loved ones who have gone on to paradise. The most recent one is Bob Ruhl. He too is worshiping, holding palm branches in his hand and shouting hosanna as he sees the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ himself, face to face.
You might be feeling the same way as you think about those who have gone before you into paradise. But don't be in despair. You will, one day, join that throng in paradise! You are a saint on earth and will join the saints in paradise.
Think about that when you are balancing your checkbook and come out with a negative balance. Think about that when you go to the doctor and he tells you that you have to lose weight for the hundredth time. Think about that when you're struggling to communicate in any way with your kids or grandkids.... or wife. Think about that when you hear the screeching as shrill on TV and radio as we get ready for a seemingly winless election.
Also think about that as you come to worship and realize that you are singing and worshiping with the same saints that you will see in heaven, yet without your sin or theirs. Think about that as you go before the throne of God and plead for mercy over your sin. Think about that as you live in the freedom of the Gospel day by day, knowing that your sins are forgiven and your inheritance is already prepared for you. Think about Jesus and His glory when you think about it.
A blessed day after ALL SAINTS DAY to all and as we celebrate it this weekend!
Let us pray: Lord, as we struggle day by day and as we experience your grace day by day use our daily life to remind us of the eternal life to come and those who already enjoy it. Amen. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Support group 1pm; Karate 5:30-7:30
Fri- Vendor Fair Set up 2:30-4:30
Sat- Vendor Fair Set up 7-9am; Vendor Fair 9-2; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Cierra Figura 11- Cameron Faerber
Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Doug Walters, Don Tate
Altar- Set up- Dave and Lindda Callies; Clean Up Pam Linke
Elders- Sat- Jason Cluver; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Steve Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Jim and Vickie McRae; 11- Steve Robine
Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Sandy Robine
Piano- Sat and 11am- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Kathy Fischer; Sun- Julie Schaumberg
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was Matthew's other name? Levi