Over 50 years ago when I was in elementary school there was a program called the Weekly Reader in which young readers were awarded points for the most books we read. Since volume was all that mattered and I remember picking out all the short books I could find. I wasn’t reading for understanding. Today as a follower of Jesus Christ and a pastor of one of His churches I no longer read for quantity but rather for inspiration and enlightenment and the one book that provides that for me in the Bible. There is one book of the 66 books that comprise the Bible that I find most people avoid reading... the Book of Revelation.
Unlike what most people think Revelation is a book about the future and about the present. It offers future hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ's final victory over evil and the reality of eternal life with him. It also gives present guidance as it teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we should live for him now.
The book of Revelation does reveal future events, but there is not the gloomy pessimism we might expect. The drama of these unfolding events is spectacular, but there is nothing to fear if you are on the winning side. Revelation is a book of prophecy that is both prediction (foretelling future events) and proclamation (preaching about who God is and what he will do). Prophecy is more than telling the future. Behind the predictions are important principles about God's character, his promises and what he expects from his church.
I have chosen for my scripture verse of the year Revelation 1:3 “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near”.(NLT)
As we read these words, we are promised that we will be blessed if we read what it says and DO what it says. This summer the teaching pastors of C3 will speak on the seven churches in Revelation and I will teach a mid-week in depth Bible study on the entire book.
I am sure that in the year to come I will be blessed by teaching from this book and my prayer is that you will be blessed by hearing and applying it to your life.
Throughout this week in this blog you will be hearing from C3 staff members about their Scripture Verse of the Year.
What will yours be?
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle
Unlike what most people think Revelation is a book about the future and about the present. It offers future hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ's final victory over evil and the reality of eternal life with him. It also gives present guidance as it teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we should live for him now.
The book of Revelation does reveal future events, but there is not the gloomy pessimism we might expect. The drama of these unfolding events is spectacular, but there is nothing to fear if you are on the winning side. Revelation is a book of prophecy that is both prediction (foretelling future events) and proclamation (preaching about who God is and what he will do). Prophecy is more than telling the future. Behind the predictions are important principles about God's character, his promises and what he expects from his church.
I have chosen for my scripture verse of the year Revelation 1:3 “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near”.(NLT)
As we read these words, we are promised that we will be blessed if we read what it says and DO what it says. This summer the teaching pastors of C3 will speak on the seven churches in Revelation and I will teach a mid-week in depth Bible study on the entire book.
I am sure that in the year to come I will be blessed by teaching from this book and my prayer is that you will be blessed by hearing and applying it to your life.
Throughout this week in this blog you will be hearing from C3 staff members about their Scripture Verse of the Year.
What will yours be?
Your pastor and partner in ministry,
Kyle
What is your Scripture Verse of the Year?
Memorize it. Meditate on it.
Mark it on the wall of the service you attend.
No comments:
Post a Comment