Advent Devotional- Part 7
Photo by Kyle Smith on Unsplash
Read Revelation 5:6-10; 19:1-10
Revelation 5:6-10
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits[a] of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Revelation 19:1-10
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 And again they shouted:
“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,
who was seated on the throne. And they cried:
“Amen, Hallelujah!”
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
both great and small!”
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,
like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
A New Song to Sing
In the Book of Revelation we read of the great multitude singing a song of praise about the marriage of the Lamb of God. The song reveals that his bride, the Church, has been made beautiful by her righteous works (that is, the works that we have been prepared and empowered to do by Christ’s sacrifice for us and his grace in our lives–Eph. 2:8-10) and she is ready to be with her groom for all eternity. It is the culmination of all salvation history, when the sanctifying work of Christ is completed in us and we have all come into the fullness of our life in God. It is truly a song to sing.
But it is not yet here.
Yes, we are the Bride of Christ, his Church. And, yes, we are living into his holiness, grace, and love. But, we struggle with sin. We are quick to forget the Lord, his promises, and his work in our lives. Instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus we often dwell on our limitations, allowing them to define us. In our desperation we sometimes try to turn our sin into something to sing about. We begin to think that all we have is what we’re missing.
Maybe you’re like Zechariah and you feel as if you are mute not knowing what to say.
Maybe you’re like Elizabeth, feeling barren or “disgraced among your people.”
Maybe you’re like Mary, presented with a calling that feels bigger than you can fathom.
Maybe you’re like Joseph, called to be a part of something you can’t necessarily understand.
Maybe you’re like the Shepherds, outcasts and unprepared yet called to witness to the world about God.
Maybe you’re like the Wise Men, seeking a King you’ve only heard about but have not yet experienced.
Maybe we’ve all felt these things; but here is what I know and what God has shown me time and time again. He is good and faithful to his word. He is mighty to save and He gives a voice to the mute. He makes the barren fruitful. He raises up the small and humble. He guides the faithful even when they are confused. He uses the weak to shame the strong. He brings the wise to a place of surrendered worship; and he gives “life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”
The seasons of Advent and Christmas are seasons of singing and if you are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ then you have a new song to sing. It is in the mystery of the Incarnation that we hear a tune which has never been sung before. It is a marriage song about the union of God and humanity that moves and works presently in our midst, becoming our song as well. No matter what you think you have or don’t have—you have Jesus! He is your song of salvation to sing this season and every season and he calls us to sing it not from our strength but from his.
Let us lift up our voices today, and throughout this last week of Advent. Take time to praise Jesus in word, deed and thought. Take time each day to read one psalm (I suggest going through 95-100 or 145-150) and sing at least one song to our Lord. He is worthy of every praise.
Amen and Merry Christmas!
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