SEVENSample

TITLE: King Jesus

Theme: God’s Glory, Worship

Song & Lyric: King Jesus: “It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise”

Scriptures:

• Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV)

Devotional:

“These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” - Revelation 2:18-19 (NIV)

In ancient and Jewish thought, to use the title ‘Son’ was to equate oneself with the very nature and likeness of the person or thing one was referring to. So, when Scripture says, “the Son of God,” this clearly denotes equality with God. This is important to understand. Jesus is speaking to the church of Thyatira through the Apostle John, and He establishes that first and foremost, He is God. In other words: King. The image of Christ’s deity is written out even further as the verse continues: “whose eyes are like blazing fire.” This communicates the just judgment of the Son of God—He looks at our lives with righteousness and holiness, both clearly and yet with power. The picture continues, “whose feet are like burnished bronze.” This is meant to communicate Christ’s purity and strength. Images of the powerful and awe inspiring Son of God are all throughout Revelation, and ultimately, they should inspire and lead us to worship Jesus. To pray or sing words like:“It is right to praise You, to bring the sacrifice You deserve. For those forgiven much, dare not forget Your touch, cannot withhold Your praise”. In other words, when we have had an experience with the living Son of God, or our minds have somewhat grasped these images in Revelation, the appropriate or fitting response is to praise Him for his goodness and glory. In fact, we often cannot withhold the praise we long to give Jesus after an encounter with Him. Interestingly, as we behold this image of the Son of God in glory, we can have confidence that He sees us as well. The next verse in this passage says, “I know your deeds, your love and faith…” Thyatira was the smallest and most insignificant of the cities that the seven letters of Revelation are written to, but how encouraging that despite their significance by human standards, they are seen, known, and loved by God! He sees us, too—with eyes ablazing and purity of heart. This should astonish us. A God so worthy of glory and honor, One surrounded by heavenly creatures who sing “holy, holy, holy” without end—this God!—sees us. He is that glorious and equally that kind and good. Amen.