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Thought it not Robbery!
“Thought it not Robbery”
Revelation 5 is my favorite chapter in all the Bible. :)
It’s so majestic and showcases Jesus in such a powerful and humbling way!
John looks on as the scene is set in chapter 5 with God sitting on the throne holding a book.
The book is described as having writing within and on the backside and sealed with seven seals.
Suddenly a strong angel proclaims with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals?”
It’s such a cut-to-the-heart question!
It takes me back to when Jesus is kneeling on the ground after having been approached by accusers of the woman caught in adultery.
Jesus makes a simple statement, “He who is without sin, let him cast a stone.”
Knowing right well that no one there was worthy, Jesus is able to minister to the woman in a powerful way!
Here we see the angel asking a simple question, but with it comes such a thought-provoking and humbling realization that no one is worthy!
In fact, the Bible says, no man in Heaven, or on Earth, or even under the earth was worthy to open the book OR to look upon it!!
It’s in this moment that John feels the weight of hopeless despair that is mankind without the intervention of Jesus!
And he wept much...
Comfort comes to John when one of the elders standing by tells him not to weep because there is One worthy - the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and loose the seven seals!
Every time I read this chapter, it brings tears to my eyes because I know that without Jesus, I am lost!
I am reminded of God’s grace and something powerful I heard a preacher say many years ago, “God did not sit behind some plate glass window and hand us a prescription for our malady, He got in our mess!”
Philippians 2:6 tells us that Jesus “thought it not robbery,” to be equal with God - He was God and He knew it! He said to the religious people of the day, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
Yet before we see His triumphal entry in Revelation 5, we see Him described in Philippians as taking on the form of a servant, making Himself of no reputation!
Think about that!
The same God who is described as having 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands of angels singing His praises in Revelation 5 is the same God who wrapped a towel about Himself and washed the dirt and animal waste from His disciples’ feet!
He is the same God who took the time to kneel in the dirt and save the woman caught in adultery!
He is the same God who cared enough to step into my jail cell and save me!
I love Jesus! He is our prime example of what it means to be like God and He was not about His rights, His fame, His own desires, He was all about others, serving them and pouring Himself out for them, for me, for you!
Today, take a moment and just bask in the goodness and grace of our loving Savior!
The way up is down.
To be like Jesus is to carry our cross daily, to serve others, to yield our desires, our rights, to His Kingdom!
He will never let us down and the rewards are always well worth the sacrifice!
He is worthy and so are you through what He has done!
Are you weeping today? Are you hurt or lonely or afraid?
Weep not for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals!
You may not like the page you are on, but the chapter isn’t over!
I sure hope this has encouraged you and brought some eternal perspective your way today :)
Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!
In Christ,
Joshua Scott Zeitz
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By Joshua Scott Zeitz“Thought it not Robbery”
Revelation 5 is my favorite chapter in all the Bible. :)
It’s so majestic and showcases Jesus in such a powerful and humbling way!
John looks on as the scene is set in chapter 5 with God sitting on the throne holding a book.
The book is described as having writing within and on the backside and sealed with seven seals.
Suddenly a strong angel proclaims with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals?”
It’s such a cut-to-the-heart question!
It takes me back to when Jesus is kneeling on the ground after having been approached by accusers of the woman caught in adultery.
Jesus makes a simple statement, “He who is without sin, let him cast a stone.”
Knowing right well that no one there was worthy, Jesus is able to minister to the woman in a powerful way!
Here we see the angel asking a simple question, but with it comes such a thought-provoking and humbling realization that no one is worthy!
In fact, the Bible says, no man in Heaven, or on Earth, or even under the earth was worthy to open the book OR to look upon it!!
It’s in this moment that John feels the weight of hopeless despair that is mankind without the intervention of Jesus!
And he wept much...
Comfort comes to John when one of the elders standing by tells him not to weep because there is One worthy - the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and loose the seven seals!
Every time I read this chapter, it brings tears to my eyes because I know that without Jesus, I am lost!
I am reminded of God’s grace and something powerful I heard a preacher say many years ago, “God did not sit behind some plate glass window and hand us a prescription for our malady, He got in our mess!”
Philippians 2:6 tells us that Jesus “thought it not robbery,” to be equal with God - He was God and He knew it! He said to the religious people of the day, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”
Yet before we see His triumphal entry in Revelation 5, we see Him described in Philippians as taking on the form of a servant, making Himself of no reputation!
Think about that!
The same God who is described as having 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands of angels singing His praises in Revelation 5 is the same God who wrapped a towel about Himself and washed the dirt and animal waste from His disciples’ feet!
He is the same God who took the time to kneel in the dirt and save the woman caught in adultery!
He is the same God who cared enough to step into my jail cell and save me!
I love Jesus! He is our prime example of what it means to be like God and He was not about His rights, His fame, His own desires, He was all about others, serving them and pouring Himself out for them, for me, for you!
Today, take a moment and just bask in the goodness and grace of our loving Savior!
The way up is down.
To be like Jesus is to carry our cross daily, to serve others, to yield our desires, our rights, to His Kingdom!
He will never let us down and the rewards are always well worth the sacrifice!
He is worthy and so are you through what He has done!
Are you weeping today? Are you hurt or lonely or afraid?
Weep not for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals!
You may not like the page you are on, but the chapter isn’t over!
I sure hope this has encouraged you and brought some eternal perspective your way today :)
Remember: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!
In Christ,
Joshua Scott Zeitz