Devotional Day 34

Scripture

Revelation 5:6-14

 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Devotional

As humans we can so easily get caught up thinking about, ruminating on and worrying about our sin, wounds, brokenness and dysfunction. Especially when we do a course like this! It can be really tempting to stare at the problem, instead of the solution.

Imagine going to the doctor and upon hearing that you’ve been diagnosed with an incurable heart disease that will kill you soon, they told you that the treatment plan was to sit down and think about the problem, to look at the scans, consider the impact it’s had on your life and think about how it’s going to kill you. That would be absurd! As soon as you hear a diagnosis from a doctor, they divert your attention away from the problem and towards a treatment plan.

We can fall into the same trap as Christians, we can hear the diagnosis of our sin and get lost staring at the problem. And yet - we would do well to remember that we were given the diagnosis and the treatment at the same time! Christ convicts and he ransoms.

When we read Revelation 5 we get caught up in the wonder of what Jesus has done for us in ransoming us from sin and its consequences.

We have this powerful moment being shown to us of what is going on in heaven, as we see the apocalyptic vision given to the Apostle John: John behold’s Jesus as a Lamb who looked as though it had been slain. He witnessed the elders falling down before the lamb saying “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” As John continued to take in what he was witnessing, he watched the living creatures, elders and angels saying with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

Jesus is portrayed here as the lamb who was slain - a reminder of the pure wonder of the gospel. That Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who was slain to pay for our sin, and bring salvation to us. Here’s why beholding the work that Jesus did on the cross should bring us indescribable joy and peace today: Yes, you have received a diagnosis, the sin problem in your life is bad, and it was going to ruin you. But. Jesus has given his life, the ransom has been paid! You are free - no more bondage, no more debt to God, there is peace, forgiveness, and rest.

It’s as if you have gone to the doctor and upon hearing the diagnosis they also told you, ‘the treatment has already been made available to you, someone has already come forward, of the same blood type - with a perfectly healthy heart, and they said that because they loved you and wanted you to live that they would give their life for yours. We’ve already done the surgery, and we’ve got the heart and you’re booked in to receive it right now - it’s already done’. What a mixture of shock, awe and grief you would feel at this news! I am saved! And yet, it has cost someone their life?? Who has done this for me? I must know!

Worthy is Jesus. Who laid down his own life for you and for me. All we can do is fall down and worship. Who else is like the Lord?

Prayer

Lord, I stand in awe today at what you’ve done for me. Help me to get my eyes off what the enemy is trying to discourage me with today and to rejoice in what you’ve done for me. I too fall down and worship you today Lord, you are worthy to receive glory and honour and power forever and ever. Amen!