Today Daily Devotional

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

— Revelation 1:9

John explains to his first readers that he understands what it means to suffer for the cause of Christ. He is imprisoned on the island of Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

John confirms that anyone who follows Jesus is not excused from persecution. In fact, Jesus told his followers to expect it. As Jesus’ enemies did to him, they will do to his followers (John 15:18-20). But Jesus also rose victorious from death and ascended to the Father’s right hand. And the church will follow. “Patient endurance” is needed through trials and suffering for God’s kingdom while his people live here on earth, but full life with God forever is promised for all who keep serving him. Next John notes that Jesus announces himself with a trumpet-like voice, telling him to write to the seven churches.

John turns around to see who is speaking, and a man is standing there among seven lampstands, dressed in a royal robe, with hair and eyes reflecting images of the “Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7:9, and with a voice like the sound of rushing waters (see Ezekiel 43:2). This “son of man” can be trusted despite what his enemies might do, for this is Jesus, the Lord of his church!

King Jesus, you have “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Give us courage to follow you faithfully each day, with all hope and trust in you. Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.

— Revelation 1:7

Did you notice the quotations in the text of Revelation 1:7? Those phrases come from Old Testament books of prophecy, and John uses them to remind his readers that Jesus’ mission was foretold long before he came.

Daniel 7:13-14 gives us a prophetic look at the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) “coming with the clouds of heaven” and taking his place with the “Ancient of Days” (God the Father). The Father gives the Son all authority over a kingdom “that will never be destroyed.”

And Zechariah 12:10 speaks of “the one they have pierced” (Jesus—see also Isaiah 53:5; John 19:34). The prophet says that God’s people will see what they have done to the Son of Man, and they will mourn because of it. This repentant attitude is a result of God’s grace. And God counts the shed blood of Jesus as the payment for all our sin, even the sins of those who have not yet believed in him. The God who speaks is “the Alpha and the Omega,” the one “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Jesus is the Savior and Lord of the church. From his position and authority he leads his church still today. In Christ, the church will stand firm and stand up against its enemies and their threats.

Church of Jesus Christ, stand firm today and always.

Almighty, eternal God, you led the authors of your Word to write history, prophecy, songs, and letters to reveal your love, power, and salvation. Thank you! Amen.

To him who . . . has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

— Revelation 1:5-6

At Mount Sinai the Lord instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel that they were to obey God and keep his covenant and that they would be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Unfortunately, no one was able to keep God’s law perfectly. So eventually God sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to be their substitute, saving them from sin and death. In fact, Jesus came to lay down his life to pay for all human sin. So he is the Savior and Lord of all who trust him in faith (John 3:16-21). In Revelation 1, John explains that in this way Jesus “made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.” This means that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are kingdom representatives to the world. We are called to be mediators (priests) with people by bringing the good news of Jesus and of God’s kingdom to the world, introducing people everywhere to God and his love. Through Jesus, we have unlimited access to God to know him and to be like him. Access to God is no longer limited to a formal earthly priesthood. That access is now open to all who come to faith in Jesus. “To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

In Jesus’ name we serve you, Almighty God. We worship you alone as Lord and serve your world as your representatives, your priests. Equip us with your Spirit for the task you have given us, we pray. Amen.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

— Hebrews 10:23

Hope is not wishful thinking, as we tend to imply when we say things like “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” or “I hope you get a perfect score!” Hope in Christ is founded firmly on the promises of the faithful God who has shown his love for us and calls us to trust that we will live with him forever. The church of Jesus Christ in the first century A.D. was facing difficult times, and John knew that the hope of Jesus’ followers would be shaken. The writer of Hebrews also indicated that the hope of believers in Christ would be challenged. But in Jesus we have the One on whom our hope can be fixed for all eternity. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Jesus, who “freed us from our sins by his blood,” calls us to be confident and to hold on with each other in the community of faith as the day of the Lord approaches—when he will come again. Why do we have such confidence? Because through Jesus’ blood, poured out as payment for our sins, we are forgiven by God, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love (Romans 8:39).

Thank you, Jesus, for opening the way to God the Father for us, providing the peace, strength, and confidence we need for each day. Amen.

John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

— Revelation 1:4-5

John is writing a letter, so he begins here with a greeting. Though he is writing to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia (present-day Turkey), this letter is not limited to those seven churches. Written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, this letter is meant for the entire church of Jesus Christ. The church is made aware of God’s grace in Christ to strengthen its faith in times of challenge and hardship, including physical persecution that will come its way. God has provided Jesus as the Savior, “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Knowing this helps us to put all things into perspective as history unfolds. John greets his readers with grace and peace from the God who is, was, and always will be—in the name of Jesus, the Christ (Messiah). Jesus is the faithful witness to all that God provides for the church. Jesus alone is the “firstborn from the dead,” and he is the exalted King over all kings (see also Colossians 1:15-20; Psalm 89:27), whether they be emperors, monarchs, presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, or chairs of the board. To Jesus, “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” belong all glory, power, and praise forever!

Lord and God, thank you for helping us know you as our Savior and King. May we rest in you alone and honor you each day. Amen.

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

— Revelation 1:1-2

When a curtain is pulled back to reveal a new work of art, the assembled crowd responds with appreciation and applause. Something that was a mystery is made known. A similar thing happens in the book of Revelation. God pulls back a curtain that has been concealing the finished work of Jesus Christ. Here God reveals to believers in Christ the source of their comfort, courage, and hope. The Lord initially revealed all of this to the apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, through the work of an angel. And John testifies that this aligns with what he witnessed firsthand as one of Jesus’ disciples.

In chapter one of Revelation, John writes about the Lord of the church of all ages, including the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2-3. And that Lord is Jesus Christ.This testimony guides us to continue as the church of Jesus today. The church needs to know its Lord and King, who at the same time is Lord and King over this world and all creation.

Rejecting all that contradicts God’s Word and God’s will, the church must stand for all that is righteous, true, and good. The seven churches in Revelation 2-3 needed that message, and so does the church of Christ in 2024.

King Jesus, you are the Lord of your church and of the whole world. Equip us to follow you. Amen.

“The kingdom of God has come upon you.”

— Matthew 12:28

When Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Your kingdom come.” In the long run, we’re asking for Jesus to come again and make everything new: heaven and earth, peoples and nations, each one of us. We’re asking God to put right everything that is wrong.

The Bible paints some lovely pictures of the kingdom of God in this ultimate sense: the wolf living with the lamb, weapons of war remade into tools of peace, no more death or mourning or crying or pain, justice at last.

But the kingdom of God is not just an ultimate reality in the future. The kingdom of God is also a present reality. It comes near through Jesus Christ, who announces the kingdom of God and makes it real. And it remains near through the Holy Spirit.

So when Christians pray, “Your kingdom come,” we’re not just asking God to change the world for good. We’re asking God to change us too—and to change us now. Because we want to see the kingdom that’s already here through Jesus. And we want to participate in that kingdom by the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise we remain captive to kingdoms of this world with their pride and their greed and their hatred and their violence. “Your kingdom come” is our plea that God will free us from all of that—so that we can begin to be new.

Heavenly Father, give us a new way to see the world and a new way to be in the world. Set us free to live as citizens of your kingdom. Amen.

“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God . . . because that is why I was sent.”

— Luke 4:43

Here’s the good news as I heard it on my way to becoming a Christian: We’re all guilty sinners who deserve to be punished by God. But Jesus suffered the punishment for us when he died on the cross. So if we admit our sin and trust Jesus to deal with it, God forgives us and we are saved. That really was good news, and I was glad to embrace it.

Here’s the good news as Jesus himself announced it on his way through Galilee: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Wait a minute. The good news Jesus announced doesn’t sound like the good news I heard. How can that be? It turns out that the good news I heard is just a piece of the good news Jesus announced. We get a glimpse of that in our reading today from Acts 16. An overwhelmed jailer can’t make sense of all the commotion in his jail. So Paul gives him some good news, saying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” But he doesn’t stop there. Because there’s more to the good news. So Paul goes on to teach the jailer and his family about Jesus and, for sure, about the kingdom of God. Because believing in Jesus is incomplete unless we believe what Jesus himself proclaimed.

Jesus, help us to listen to what you say and to watch what you do. How else can we follow you into the kingdom? Amen.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

— Luke 22:42

While they are dying by crucifixion, one of the two criminals next to Jesus says to him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Have you ever wondered what that’s all about?

Originally the word for “paradise” referred to an enclosed garden. Later it meant a place where the righteous dead waited for the resurrection. In the book of Revelation it seems to point to the new Jerusalem and the new creation, where God’s people will live with the Lord forever.

In our reading today, what does Jesus mean by “paradise,” where the criminal will join him that very day? Does he mean a garden? A waiting room? The New Jerusalem?

Here’s what I wonder: what if “paradise” is right there, right then, on those two crosses on that Friday afternoon? I know, it doesn’t sound like paradise. And no one would want to vacation there—not to mention living and dying there.

But according to the Bible, when Jesus surrenders his life on the cross—right there, right then—he is in his glory. Right there, right then he is on his throne. Right there, right then he has come into his kingdom, where the Father’s will is done on earth, the same as in heaven. And the criminal on the cross nearby is there with him, the first one there with him.

Jesus, I want to be with you in your kingdom. So give me enough faith to take up a cross and to carry it to paradise. Amen.

When the centurion . . . saw how [Jesus] died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

— Mark 15:39

Paul had been jailed because of false charges from the religious leaders in Jerusalem. So he used his Roman citizenship to appeal his case all the way to the judgment seat of Caesar in Rome (Acts 21-26).

From Egypt to Britain, from Spain to Armenia, the Roman Empire was Caesar’s world. Citizens and slaves bowed to him. They feared his armies, which brought him victory. They used his coins, which declared him “the Son of God.”

Before the appointment, Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome. During that time, he welcomed all sorts of visitors. And he spoke boldly about the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus.

Think about that. In the capital city of Caesar’s empire, Paul proclaimed another kingdom and another Lord. Yes, that Lord had died on one of Caesar’s crosses. But to a Roman commander who witnessed that death, it was obvious that Jesus, not Caesar, was “the Son of God.”

The kingdom of God, by its very existence, and the Lord Jesus, by his supreme authority, are a direct challenge to every realm and ruler on earth. The law of Christ overrules every contrary human law. And the way of the kingdom sets aside every other way.

Every bit of this is good news. But it’s also dangerous news, unwelcome by the powers and authorities of this world. Nevertheless, in Christ we are citizens of his kingdom and under his authority. Even if that means suffering on a cross.

Jesus, we humble ourselves before you. May every realm and every ruler do the same. Amen.