Tag: bsf revelation seven lampstands

Thought Word Deed

I grew up in a church with a more traditional liturgy and book of prayer.  The public confession in our worship service, on communion Sundays, began with the statement: “Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.”

This came to my mind as I thought about John and the way he is witnessing his faith.  I see him witnessing in thought, word and deed as and example to us all.  On the Lord’s day, he is in the spirit.  He hears the voice like a trumpet and he sees the one he loves.  This is his very best friend, Jesus.  This is the one to whom he has dedicated his entire life.  And, in response to seeing him, John models for us the one and only appropriate response: he feel to his face in submission to the holy Lord, King of Kings.

It makes me think of how I should respond to Jesus each and every day.  He is no longer the babe in the manger (although that is part of who he will always be).  He is the victorious one.  The firstborn of the dead.  The glorified person of the God-Head.  He is our savior, Lord, and King.

I can be tempted to think of Jesus only as that babe.  I can be tempted to think of Him only as the preacher and healer.  I can be tempted to think of Him only on the cross or risen from the tomb.  Those are all accurate, but they can also be a temptation to put Jesus in a little box.  Jesus is bigger.  Instead of trying to compartmentalize Jesus to a viewpoint or to a certain time of the day or week, I need to change my perspective to match that of John.  The most direct way to change my perspective is to change my posture.  Maybe I need to spend less time trying to stand up in defense of my thoughts, words and deeds, and more time face down on the ground in front of my Maker and Lord.  If I truly do want to make a personal connection with Jesus, maybe I should spend less time trying to reach to Him and more time in submission to Him so that He will lay His hand on me as He did on John.

My Answers:

12.
the seven churches

13.
Jesus.  He is the exalted promised Messiah, who died, but through grace, saves those who caused His death.

14.
He fell face down at His feet.  He knew Jesus and knew who He was.  He witnessed to us through his actions.  This is the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.