Revelation 5

Revelation 5:2

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?"

Interesting that the angel is described as strong, isn't it?  Angels are already being of immense, though limited, power.  To us, they are the most powerful beings short of God Himself, and this angel is apparently stronger than most, but he is still unable to break the seals?

However, I realized that he's not asking who is able to break the seals and open the scroll.  Instead, he's asking who is worthy to.  It's another reminder that God does not operate by physical power, but through those who do His will and He makes worthy.  In this case, worthiness was achieved by dying for all of mankind.

Revelation 4

Revelation 4:10

the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

This is probably where our traditional view of heaven comes from.  The modern thought of heaven among western Christians is that it's all about bowing and worshiping God all the time, for eternity.  As Chip Ingram said in a video series I led recently, it sounds great for worship pastors but to the rest of us seems kind of boring.

What we need to remember is that right before this verse it talks about what causes this to happen.  The elders can't be spending time on their thrones for John to see at first if they're constantly on their faces bowing to Him.  While this worship is certainly due Him, it will not be constant and unending.

Revelation 3

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

I sometimes wonder what's going on with many of us, who seem to be living average lives without much trouble.  If God disciplines those He loves, does that mean that He doesn't love us?  Or does it mean that we're on the right path after all, and therefore don't need discipline?

I have to remind myself that the first term used is to reprove.  He is trying to get our attention, to steer us back onto the right path where we've strayed.  He's trying to give us a nudge back, and we should listen, or He will have to bring the stronger measure of discipline to bear to push us back to Him.

Revelation 2

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.

Some say that the letters to the churches are actually speaking to the seven phases the church will go through before the end times.  If that's the case, and I don't particularly think it is, I wonder how they interpret this passage.  The prophecy of being cast into prison for ten days before possible execution seems to be rather specific.

I notice that it doesn't say that they will be relieved after the ten days are over.  Instead, it tells them to be faithful until death, suggesting at the end of the ten days of persecution they will be executed.  This should serve as a reminder that even though God is able to save us from all things, it doesn't mean He always does; sometimes our deaths serve a higher purpose in His plan than our continued lives could.

Revelation 1

Revelation 1:20

As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands:  the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

From memory, I think this may be the only time in the entire book where the symbols used are explained.  Obviously Jesus felt this was important to understand, though I'm not certain why.  With everything else that goes on in this book, why is the meaning of the lampstands and stars around Jesus important to be explained?

I've also always wondered why these seven churches were selected to receive this message.  John surely had a larger influence than merely that small region of the empire; he at least had contacts stretching back to Jerusalem.  Yet, these seven churches alone were granted this glimpse of what was to come, and I wonder why they were so in need of it.

Jude

Jude 24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

I often don't think of God as being able to prevent my stumbling.  I tend to think of Him as able to see the bumps coming, maybe warning me, but if I keep going that direction it's up to me to get past them without falling down.  The idea that God is able to steady me is an odd idea, as it seems to violate my precept of free will.  Or maybe it's an indicator of seeing the bumps and guiding me to avoid them?

I also have to admit that when I think of being in God's presence, joy isn't the feeling that comes to mind.  Instead, I think of fear and guilt, as I know how unworthy I am.  However, the pronouncement of being blameless will change that when the time comes, and I need to remember that far more often.

3 John

3 John 8

Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

This is one of the first statements to support missionaries in their work.  While we are all commanded to share the gospel in some way (a task I am quite delinquent in), there are some among us that are called to do so "full-time."  Today we call these people missionaries or pastors or preachers.

My parents are part of this calling, though it didn't occur until just before I left home.  And not everyone preaches to unbelievers directly; my parents work for a missions organization that supports locals using radio to reach others.  For those of us who don't have that calling ourselves, we are to help those who do in whatever ways possible, as there are far too many believers who don't.

2 John

2 John 11

for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

This seems like a very harsh pronouncement, that we are not to even offer basic courtesy to someone.  Normally, believers are to be marked by their hospitality, and we are to love everyone who we are near.  Yet here, even something as simple as a greeting is seen as collaboration with Satan.

I guess the key to remember is that this is not merely a greeting to a random person, but to a subversive.  This is an enemy spy, trying to deceive believers into following false doctrine.  As such, any action could be seen by others as an endorsement, and used to trick people into thinking that they should listen and believe what this liar speaks.

1 John 5

1 John 5:14

This is the confidence which we have before him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

There are two ways to read this verse, and I think one tends to get more play than the other.  The first is that if we pray with some kind of formula like "may such-and-such, according to Your will, happen," we expect that God will do what we ask.  The problem with this is that it turns God into a vending machine, where we just have to have a coin that says "Your Will" and it'll spit out whatever we want.

The second, and I think correct, way is that we have to be praying in alignment with God and His plans for us.  If we are truly seeking Him, we will want what He wants.  So, even when we want something different, we make it clear that we are bending to His will, not expecting Him to bend to ours.  By repetition and thought, our wills will be reshaped to match His more closely, and we'll find our prayers "being answered" more often.

1 John 4

1 John 4:21

And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

Something I've been struggling with for the last couple years is to figure out what love is, and what it looks like in practical terms.  Ideally, it would be the same for and from everyone, but that isn't the case despite our best efforts.  For me, I've come to realize that I don't feel like I'm loved because my "love language" is quality time, which absolutely no one is interested in spending with me.

However, if I'm being honest, as I've come to feel unloved, it's also become a lot harder for me to demonstrate love to others.  I don't feel like I can pour out of an empty pitcher, because there's no one filling my tank up.  I feel like that's a hole God should be able to fill, but my head says that they're different types and therefore one can't really substitute for the other, hence I remain drained.  But am I correct, or just making excuses?

1 John 3

1 John 3:20

in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

I try not to use the rest of the chapter in these thoughts, but this part confuses me.  The surrounding verses seem to indicate that we are condemned if our heart condemns us.  Yet here, it says God knows the truth and is greater than our heart.

So, how do I square this apparent contradiction?  Does the heart only condemn those who are not saved, as it is the Spirit trying to open them up and let Him in?  Or is the Spirit supposed to quiet our hearts if He is in, and therefore true believers will not be condemned?

1 John 2

1 John 2:4

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

After the previous chapter's verse made me feel a bit better, this one makes me worry again.  I know what His commandments are, I want to want to keep them, but I far-to-often fail to do so.  So, I'm back to the previous question, am I truly saved or am I not?

Everything I've ever been taught says that I am saved, flawed though I may be in my practice.  While there will always be flaws, I find myself fixated on things which are not right, and thoughts turn into actions.  Are these areas that simply need more attention and surrender to God, or are they signs that I am separated and only pretending?

1 John 1

1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

What is meant by walking in darkness?  I always kind of thought that it meant to still be walking in sin.  However, the later verses in this chapter seem to indicate that sin will always be with us to some extent, so that must not be it.

My best guess is that it means to be false believers, where we claim to be saved when we know we're not, and live like we're not.  In some ways this is a relief to me, as I've always wondered if this was a verse that supports one being able to lose one's salvation.  However, reading it in context indicates that that is not the case, but instead that we will always fight sin but never be conquered by it, if we truly asked Christ to save us.

2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

I've written recently about the guilt I feel at having been saved, and how I sometimes wish I could undo it and get the punishment I deserve.  However, I know that while I might prefer this in the short-term, I would completely regret that decision in eternity, just as every unbeliever will.  In my case, God's patience is felt very strongly, as I struggle with this tension.

In addition, this verse tells us the reason that God's waiting:  so more may come to know Him.  When I think about it, this also makes me feel kind of guilty, as I can't say I'm directly doing anything that aids this effort.  I have no nonbelieving friends, I don't talk about my personal life at work, and I spent all my time at home alone; not much opportunity for evangelism in that mix.

2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:21

For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

I wonder, does this describe me?  I came to know the commandments as a child, taught what was right and wrong and why.  Yet the older I've gotten, the harder it is for me to hold to them, and I find myself getting further and further away from the childlike faith I once had.

However, I have to think there's still hope.  I haven't completely turned away, or renounced my faith.  I still want to move closer to God, but the pull of those temptations keeps growing stronger.

2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:9

For he who lacks these qualities is blind or shortsighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Remembering my purification is a daily struggle for me.  I have a strong sense of inadequacy about my failings, in part because I was saved at such a young age.  I never felt the weight of my sins being lifted from me, because I had only the barest awareness of those sins to begin with.

Perhaps as a result of this, I feel like I've cheated my due punishment, not that I've been saved from it.  I will never face the consequences of what I've done, and therefore have a lot of trouble turning away from these sins now.  All I remember is the resentment I feel towards myself, for having something I don't deserve, and I know this is stunting my spiritual growth.

1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:5

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God gives grace to the humble.

What does it really mean to be subject to your elders?  Does it mean you always follow unblinkingly, even when you think they're wrong?  I wish this were just a theoretical question, but given I feel my church's leadership has messed some things up so badly that I'm probably leaving, it's a far too real question for my liking.

At the same time, I have to keep this part about humility in mind.  I have questioned for years whether I'm right, or my ego and pride are pushing me in this direction.  So where does Biblical humility and subjection end, and the God's guiding me elsewhere because of error begin?