Verse of the Day 5/4

Through the Bible - Numbers 17-19, Revelation 21

 

Good morning,

The pursuit of happiness is part of if one of the core freedoms in the United States.  In the Bible, true happiness is often represented by the word "blessed".  It refers to spiritual joy, bliss, fulfillment and satisfaction.  It is the description of an inner joy that brings satisfaction, contentment and peace that withstands the pressures and trials in this life.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Revelation 14 for the second of the "blessed" statements, the beatitudes of Revelation.

 

Rev 14:12-13  Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's commands, staying faithful to Jesus.

 

I heard a voice out of Heaven, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how blessed to die that way!"

 

"Yes," says the Spirit, "and blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end."   The Message

 

I like the way Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, describing the saints as "standing passionately patient".  It speaks of the desire for a better day but having the patience to endure today to get there, remaining faithful all the while.  No easy task, but it is possible in Jesus.

 

John MacArthur describes this blessing as "the most startling pronouncement of blessing in all of scripture.... Amazingly, this second of seven beatitudes in Revelation pronounces blessing on the dead.  Such a thought is incomprehensible to most people, who view death as something to be avoided.  "Blessed are the living" would seem a more appropriate motto for most people.

The obvious question that the text provokes is "why are these dead blessed"?  The answer is twofold: The dead in view here are blessed because of how they lived and because of how they died."

 

Can you think of a Christian, a friend, a saint who lived standing passionately patient and died with such grace?  It is a far cry from those who deny God who depart this world in fear of what lies ahead.

 

May we stand passionately patient today knowing that God's blessing awaits us in the end.  Are you uncertain? The words from the Gaither song "I Believe, Help Thou My Unbelief" may be a prayer for you to consider today.

 

I believe, help thou my unbelief i take the finite risk of trusting as a child

I believe, help thou my unbelief i walk into the unknown trusting all the while

I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know But should i never feel the things i claim Him even so.

I believe, help thou my unbelief I walk into the unknown trusting all the while.

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Rev 14:12-13

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

 

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write:'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'"

 

"Yes," says the Spirit,"that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."    NKJV