The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotional" for Wednesday, 30 March 2016 with Revelation 1:4-8

The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotional" for Wednesday, 30 March 2016 with Revelation 1:4-8Revelation 1:4 From: Yochanan

To: The seven Messianic communities in the province of Asia:

Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5 and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth’s kings.

To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, 6 who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim for God, his Father — to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. Amen.

7 Look! He is coming with the clouds![Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13]

Every eye will see him,

including those who pierced him;

and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him.[Revelation 1:7 Zechariah 12:10–14]

Yes! Amen!

8 “I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’” says Adonai,

God of heaven’s armies,

the One who is, who was and who is coming.[Complete Jewish Bible]

John's letter to the seven churches of Asia clearly states the life, death, resurrection and lordship of Jesus. In the name of this Lord, John sends a greeting of grace and peace. It is a name that holds grace and peace for us because it signals Jesus' power and authority over all other rulers. Now Jesus uses the power in that name to love us and free us from our sins. Jesus makes us part of his kingdom, calling us to be priests who serve his God and Father.
"Look!" the writer calls us (Revelation 1:7). See Jesus as your Lord coming to you now, turning you from your wailing, revealing to you his love and forgiveness. This Jesus will also be the one who will continue to come to you, for he is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end of everything.
Alpha and Omega, as your word went out to the churches of Asia, send your word to our churches so that we know your love, your forgiveness, and your calling into your kingdom to be our Lord. In the name above all names we pray. Amen.
Amanda Olson de Castillo
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, South St. Paul, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 2004
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.[New Revised Standard Version]
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