#‭‭revelation 5:11-13‬

[walkswithmyfather]

Revelation 5:11-13 (NASB). “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

“The Songs of Longing” By In Touch Ministries:

“The baby born in a manger will return in all His glory as King of Kings.”

“Throughout history, the church has seen Advent—the weeks leading up to Christmas—as a time to focus on a weary world’s wait for a Savior. We reflect on Christ’s first coming, when He arrived as a baby miraculously born to a virgin in Bethlehem. And we look toward His someday return as a conquering King, which is described vividly throughout the book of Revelation.

When we think of that final book of the Bible, we tend to focus on the descriptions of heaven and celestial beings, spiritual warfare, and pronouncements of God’s judgement. But laced throughout the book are songs of worship, which anchor us to the eternal reality that God reigns over all.

Meditating on these songs offers a powerful harmony to the carols we sing at this time of year. In Revelation 5, John writes, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever” (v. 13). These hymns of praise help us cultivate holy longing for the second coming of our King Jesus. And they give us a glimpse of His glory—glory of the One we are longing for.

Later this month, as the Bible in One Year reading plan takes you through the book of Revelation, consider taking some time to pray the words of these songs. Join the chorus of eternity as you lean into the wait that characterizes this season.”

[You can find the Bible in One Year reading plan at Intouchuk.org.

Photo by Walter Chávez at Unsplash]

[hiswordsarekisses]

Why do we exist? What’s the purpose of our lives? Most people of faith will answer, “the purpose of life is to know God and to love Him forever,” and yet this is merely an academic answer until it is spoken from a heart that has been tested. In other words, we can only genuinely know and love God through the purifying struggle of testing...

The life of faith is education for eternity... “This world is like a corridor before the World to Come; prepare yourself in the corridor, that you may enter into the hall.” God tests us along the way, disciplining and correcting us, so that we are no longer “two souled” but rather strong of faith, with singleness of vision and purpose.

A student once asked his rebbe: “Do we get punished for our sins in this world?” His concise response was, “Only if we are made fortunate...” The same can be said of testing: trials given to us by God are really opportunities. God “hides his face from us” so that we will seek him. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The venture of seeking God creates inward strength that cannot be gained apart from the exercise of faith.

Not everyone is blessed with being tested by God. Some people are overlooked. The righteous person - the tzaddik - is always under God’s scrutiny, both in order to refine his character and to bring about correction. This scrutiny is a sure sign of God’s love, for God disciplines those whom he receives as his children (see Heb. 12:5-11). If we endure chastisement, we are being received as his sons.

So we are tested to confirm our identity as God’s children. Purity of the heart is to will one thing, and divine testing functions as a “refining fire” that removes the dross of ambivalence from our hearts. For the righteous, the various trials of life ask a divine question addressed to the heart of faith: Do you love me? Will you trust me now - in this place? with this trouble? in this darkness? As we believe, we are given more revelation, and that, in turn, further vindicates God’s faithfulness and love.

Remaining steadfast in faith is the way we express our love to God: “Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life (עֲטֶרֶת הַחַיִּים) that God promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). The “tested genuineness of your faith” is precious to God and will bring praise and glory and honor when the Messiah’s righteousness is vindicated upon the earth (1 Pet. 1:7).

So remember that God sends us trials so we might turn to Him for help... As Yitzchok Hutner once wisely said, "The main purpose of tefilah (i.e., תְפִלָה, prayer) is not to get us out of problems. The purpose of problems is to get us into tefilah." Amen. May you turn to the LORD and be strengthened in all the tests that come your way, chaverim. [Hebrew for Christians]

“Loved ones, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal taking place among you to test you—as though something strange were happening to you. Instead, rejoice insofar as you share in the sufferings of Messiah, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be glad.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4:12-13‬