Thoughts in Worship

Thoughts in Worship 10.16.2015


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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, October 16, 2015
Today’s Scripture:
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13).
Today’s Observation:
Most of us are not comfortable talking about death. It seems so final. Yet the prophet is shown that those who die in the Lord are blessed. How could that be? The Spirit said that those who have died in the Lord are blessed, because they are resting from their labours, and a sort of testimony of those faithful labours is assigned to their lives.
All throughout Scripture we see what are called beatitudes/blessings. And following each of those blessings come some great rewards. Here are a few examples: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:3–7). After each blessing there is a promise of reward.
What is the promise of reward implied in our theme text? First, it is rewarding for those who have laboured faithfully for and died in the faith of Jesus, because they are resting. The Bible says that death is like a dreamless sleep (John 11; Ecclesiastes 9). Since this is the case, it makes no difference, nor is there a need to say R.I.P. when a loved one dies. Why? When a person dies, all thoughts, emotions, feelings, pains, etc., cease until God awakens them. They cannot help but be at peace.
Now, our theme text references secondly that the testimony of the faithful is assigned to their lives. Does the Bible give us any indication of what that might mean? Notice what the Scriptures say: “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:3–10 NLT). Of the multitudes of faithful followers of God Paul said, “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39–40). All who have given their full labour of love by faith to Jesus, and are resting, await their eternal reward.
When Jesus comes in the effulgent brightness of His glory, every person living on earth at the time will see the fulfillment of our theme text’s beatitude. Here’s just one more text: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6). When Jesus returns, all who have embraced His blessed gift and those who may not have been privy to this direct revelation but have embraced...
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Thoughts in WorshipBy Message Magazine

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