Heaven’s Posthumous Purple Heart

ALL – Psalm 133:1-3
ALL – Proverbs 29:26-27
OT – Jonah 1:1-4:11
NT – Revelation 5:1-14

Interesting passage for the day: They were singing him a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it; for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every nation as gifts for God. And you have gathered them into a kingdom and made them priests of our God; they shall reign upon the earth.” – Revelation 5:9-10, The Living Bible

Thought: The Purple Heart award is an honor given in the name of the United States President to soldiers who have been wounded or killed during their service to our country. Yes, it is an honor that can be given to a soldier after death. Facing death in service to other people deserves honor so much that our government does not consider the posthumous award to be a waste.

Here in Revelation 5, Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is found to be worthy of an honor that no one else—not a single living being in all of creation—could claim, the honor of taking the scroll from the hand of the “one who was sitting on the throne” (Rev 5:1), to break its seals and to open it. Why did the Lamb merit this great honor?

The twenty four elders sang the reason for His honor. “You are worthy,” they proclaimed, “for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every nation as gifts for God. And you have gathered them into a kingdom and made them priests of our God; they shall reign upon the earth.”

Jesus has gone to war for us. He marched straight to the front lines and battled for our lives. And Jesus Christ did not leave the battle field in defeat. He won the victory! We who trust in Him are being gathered into His kingdom and have become priests of God!

This victory was not won without cost. Jesus Christ died on the field of battle. He laid His life down to gain the ultimate victory.

And yet, in this heavenly scene from Revelation 5, Jesus Christ did not need a next-of-kin to step forward and claim His honor for Him. Unlike the United States’ posthumous Purple Heart awards, Jesus Christ is an honoree who can stand to personally receive the posthumous praise He deserves. He has risen from the dead and lives forever. And so the victory that He won by His death is forever secure because He lives.

Question: How grateful are you to Jesus for His death for you? When you hear about the honor He receives, do you yawn? Clap politely? Or cheer at the top of your lungs? If you could award Jesus an appropriate posthumous “Purple Heart” award of your own, what kind of reward do you think He would deserve?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: As Men and Women, Serve God Well

The message, preached on October 17th, 2010, covered 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. As men and women, we’re called to understand God’s design for the way we relate to others so that we can live God’s design for us, exactly as we are. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

Dying While Living, Living While Dying

ALL – Psalm 44:8-26
ALL – Proverbs 22:13
OT – Job 37:1-39:30
NT – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:11

Interesting passage for the day: These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day. – 2 Corinthians 4:15-16, The Living Bible

Thought: Is ministry draining or empowering? Is it death or life? I’m not just talking about professional, paid ministry. I’m talking about how you and I relate to our neighbors, our relatives, our co-workers. When we serve them, when we hear about their struggles and temptations, when we debate with them over where our faith is worthwhile or not—what happens to us? Are we renewed? Or do we fade away?

Honestly, sometimes being there for other people is draining. Sometimes the struggle is more than sometimes. It might be normal or usual. Sometimes it feels like we’re dying so that everyone else can have life.

But what a joy to see more people joining us in thanking the great God we serve! What a thrill to see Jesus’ name lifted high!

And there is something tremendous happening—no, not just happening—GROWING, inside us. We are gaining strength, even when our bodies feel like they’re falling apart. The physical strength we sometimes like is being replaced with a deeper, permanent, eternal life that keeps us going and reminds us that any pain we might go through is only for now. It won’t last forever.

Question: Do you remember when you’re going through really tough periods that Jesus is giving you a life that is growing stronger day by day? Or do you forget? Or do you have a hard time caring? How can we learn to find strength through Jesus more frequently and joyfully?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.