Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, October 30, 2015

Valuable Resource:

For a fuller understanding of today’s theme text, please enjoy the Bible study titled, “A Colossal City In Space” brought to you by Amazingfacts.org.

Here’s a direct link to the study: http://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4981/t/a-colossal-city-in-space

Today’s Scripture:

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:1–2).

Today’s Observation:

The ancient city of Jerusalem was to stand in history as a monument of God’s grace and the faithfulness of His chosen people. As He demonstrated during the reign of some of His faithful kings, it was to be called the City of Peace. When they listened to the voice of God and lead the people by example, many times their enemies wouldn’t even make war with them. In those times, it lived up to its name. It was truly the City of Peace.

The Lord was saddened by the many years His people chose to be inconsistent with Him. Time after time He forgave them, although He knew that they would disregard His laws, judgments, warnings, and eventually the Messiah. He did not treat them as He was treated. Hundreds of years had passed, and turmoil racked the inhabitants of that great city. Even the temple of God was besieged by trouble because God’s people would not lay self aside and trust Him implicitly. Hence the cry of Christ, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37-39). So it was in 70 A.D. that the city of peace became a fiery war zone. Not one stone of their temple, that God had previously called His own, was left upon another. Their house was truly left unto them desolate. Their final collective rejection of Jesus and the stoning of Stephen was the last straw before God allowed their disrespect to run its course. Never again would they be called His children by virtue of their natural birth. Rather, it would be through rebirth and relationship with Christ that each individual would be called a child of God. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29).

Conclusion:

One day soon, the heirs of God’s riches will occupy the city that God intended. The City of Peace will reemerge and be called holy again. Only those who love the Lord will be admitted. Will you be there? “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It...