Revelation 5

"...Behold, the Lion..." is what John is told.  John sees a Lamb.  The Lamb that was slain who alone was and is worthy.  

Without the Lamb, I cannot approach the throne nor appreciate the Lion.

Father, I thank You for Your Word to me today.  Holy Spirit, I am grateful to You for taking me through Revelation.  You are my Counselor.  Jesus, I praise You that You are exactly Who I need when I need - and I always need.  I praise You for being the Lamb, the Lion, the Peace, the Price, the Only Worthy One, the One Who was Slain, my Ransom.  I praise You that wherever I am, You are and You are all that I need. To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! May I never forget You are the Lamb who was slain for me, may I never neglect giving you blessing and honor and glory and might - even though I need You to teach me the way of living a life worthy of You.  You are amazing.  I am overwhelmed.

Revelation 4

8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

    "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    who was and is and is to come!"

 ⁹And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
 ¹¹ "Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they existed and were created." 

How does my response to God compare?  

How often do I attribute holiness to the Lord of my life?

How do I live in answer to God's ultimate and omni-worthiness?

God, please recalibrate my passion for You.  My life is Yours so help me live in such a manner that I am always aware that I am responding to You - because I am, whether I realize it or not.  Teach me to tremble at Your Word, at Your Name.  Please shatter the papier-mache' worship-life I have and reanimate me to be engaged with You in the fashion for which You created me.

Revelation 3

In chapters two and three, the Lord addresses five of the seven churches with, "I know your deeds."  The remaining two are greeted with, "I know your tribulation and poverty" and "I know where you dwell."  

I am struck anew with how personal the Sovereign King of the Universe is and how He responds to faithfulness and infidelity.

The second help I receive is from verses 8 and 2:  I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.   I have almost no influence or power; but I can be alert in order to obey and be true to His Name that I may finish the work He has set before me, (continually reminded of the "faith without works is dead"). 

Oh, Sovereign Lord and my Father, I thank You for these Words which stir in me a stronger desire to make my life high fidelity to You.  Yet, You know how small and frail I am, how prone I am to taking naps rather than fighting for the faith.  Keep me alert and watchful, grant me spiritual night-vision and keep me in Your timezone.  Direct me in caring for the responsibilities You have entrusted to me that I may keep Your Word and not deny Your Name.  Please increase my capacity for discernment in the spiritual that I may bring glory to Your Name.  Help my spiritual siblings to be strengthened, alert and faithful, too.  Praise You.

Revelation 2

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

This is "to the churches" and not just this one church.  These words are intended to be heard, received and heeded. 

To the one who conquers or To him who overcomes...

A massive war is waged in which one must endure and conquer in order to receive the rewards listed: 

• to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God, 

• not be hurt by the second death, 

• I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it,

• (this one is preceded with enduring until victory and keeping His commands until the end)   I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

• (from chapter 3) will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

•  I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 

• I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 

  Lord, Thank You for this section of Your glorious Word.  Please do Your work to  make me one that has ears to hear.  Then, let me hear, tune my heart, ears, mind and spirit to You that I would clearly receive and obey Your words.  Let them marinade in me so that they cause the change You intend  - Your Word does not return void.  Help me to overcome, to endure til victory, keeping Your deeds triumphantly and faithfully.  I admit, I don't really understand what all this means; but You said it, I receive it and I gratefully expect it.  You are God.  Alone.  Praise You.

Revelation 1

Revelation is an exact testimony to be read aloud, heard and obeyed of the revelation given to show God's slaves what is coming.   Blessings accompany the knowing and believing of this word.

God is reassuring me in these words that He does want me to read and understand what is contained in these scriptures.  He gave them for that reason to be read, heard, and embraced.  This encourages me as I have always been extremely reluctant to seriously study this book.  

May I receive the blessing from properly approaching and participating in and with this Word.  May the Life of the Word transform me for the glory of God.  Thank You for Your personal invitation and reassurance.  I bow to You and trust Your plan.

3 John

You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.... Beloved, ...  imitate ... what is good.  The one who does good is of God. 

What investment am I making into the Kingdom that is done in a manner worthy of God?  

How is my worship?  

My testimony?  

My reputation?  

My interaction with others?

Who or what at am I sending on in a manner worthy of God?

I do not lack for activity and relationship; but what am I sending on in each of these areas that is worthy of GOD?

Lord, open my eyes and my heart, gift me with creativity to be able to send into Your Kingdom in a manner worthy of Your Name.  Lord, teach me what that means and sustain me that I may conduct myself and my 'sendings' in a manner worthy of You.  You are worthy of anything and everything; please show me how to pour out of my alabaster flask that which is pure nard and not mediocrity to You. 

2 John

love one another = walk in His commandments

I love best when I obey best.  

Love and worship God exclusively, honor Him, His Name and His day relentlessly, love others and myself identically.

Adherence to these commands yields loving best.  Not complicated.  Until I figure myself into the equation.

Father, help me love and obey just as You desire.  Please cure my self-preservation instincts and let me remember to trust that You have me so I can be useful to You for loving others.  I know You are completely trustworthy.  You are perfectly faithful.  You are Flawless.  I am overwhelmed.   Please keep me close that I may not miss a word You have for me.  You and I both know how I distract; Holy Spirit, please teach me or grant me focus.  Thank You that You have spoken to me.  May I be faithful with Your gift.