Daily Scripture: Revelation 21:121 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life.
22:1 Next the angel showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 Between the main street and the river was the Tree of Life producing twelve kinds of fruit, a different kind every month; and the leaves of the tree were for healing the nations — 3 no longer will there be any curses. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will no longer exist, so they will need neither the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because Adonai, God, will shine upon them. And they will reign as kings forever and ever.
Reflection Questions:God promised King David, “Your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). Isaiah wrote that God would create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:7). And Revelation, which began with the words “A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah” (Revelation 1:1, The Message) could put those promises into the context of the risen Redeemer. Revelation ended with a glowing, symbol-laden description of the wonders that await God’s people. A central symbol was God’s restored gift of “the tree of life” (cf. Genesis 2:9, 3:22). Through that symbol, the book said the most glorious reward of all is that God will be with us, and we with God, throughout eternity.
- The apostle Paul said Christians can live very differently from those “who don’t have any hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Rome hated (and sometimes killed) Christians, yet John wrote of a splendid future for God’s people, using images from Genesis 2 which pictured the garden of Paradise. The exiled seer asked everyone to choose that future of “the life everlasting:” “Let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift” (Revelation 22:17). Have you said yes to that invitation? Do you believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting?
O God, you are already making me new, and I can hardly wait for you to complete that process, for me and for our world. Fill me with your hope and energy this day and every day. Amen.
Family Activity:
How can your family find ways to share the continuous Good News that “Jesus is alive”? Gather and invite each person to share how he or she experiences the joy and love of Jesus in their life. Ask, “How do you know Jesus loves you?” or “When do you feel the love of Jesus in your heart?” Write these thoughts down, then create a list of people who might need to experience the love of Jesus. Choose one or two ways to share Jesus’ love with others. You might share kind and encouraging words or bake cookies. Maybe you want to share a song or a Scripture passage. Celebrate and share the good news of Jesus’ love all year long!Insights from Mike Ash
Mike Ash is the worship leader and Director of Community Life at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection’s Blue Springs Campus. This past week was Resurrection’s Leadership Institute, a very busy week. Mike first wrote this post on May 2 of this year, but it fits today’s Scripture readings well.
God is always at work creating and making things new. It’s interesting that God’s story with humans begins in a garden, and ends in a restored “garden” (which is also a city).
When Mary Magdelene went to the garden tomb and first saw Jesus she actually thought he was the gardener!
Every year my grandmother would plant a garden. I would run the tiller and help her plant the seeds. One spring she had to leave to visit her sister in Florida for two weeks. She said to me “You know how to till the garden and I’ve mapped out how the seeds should be planted.” The next morning I plowed the garden and planted the seeds and was pretty proud of myself! But when she arrived back home and saw the garden she wasn’t very happy. I hadn’t weeded, watered or broken up the ground. It was like a giant patch of hard dirt!
Most Sundays we pray the Lord’s prayer together. I’m always grateful when we say “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Like Adam and Eve, we can chose to do what we want and think we know what’s best, or we can surrender to the one who promises, that if we remain in him we will bear much fruit.
Let’s submit our lives, our concerns and our future to the Lord and know that He is making all things new!
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
God is always at work creating and making things new. It’s interesting that God’s story with humans begins in a garden, and ends in a restored “garden” (which is also a city).
When Mary Magdelene went to the garden tomb and first saw Jesus she actually thought he was the gardener!
Every year my grandmother would plant a garden. I would run the tiller and help her plant the seeds. One spring she had to leave to visit her sister in Florida for two weeks. She said to me “You know how to till the garden and I’ve mapped out how the seeds should be planted.” The next morning I plowed the garden and planted the seeds and was pretty proud of myself! But when she arrived back home and saw the garden she wasn’t very happy. I hadn’t weeded, watered or broken up the ground. It was like a giant patch of hard dirt!
Most Sundays we pray the Lord’s prayer together. I’m always grateful when we say “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Like Adam and Eve, we can chose to do what we want and think we know what’s best, or we can surrender to the one who promises, that if we remain in him we will bear much fruit.
Let’s submit our lives, our concerns and our future to the Lord and know that He is making all things new!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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