Revelation 1:4b-8 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 1:4b-8 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, Verse 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, Verse 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Verse 7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. Verse 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Devotion
“Grace to you, and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come.” These are words that John wrote to the seven churches in Asia. They are very similar words to the ones that begin many a sermon. And what words they are!
Peace we can comprehend: contentment, joy, harmony. We understand partly because we can feel and see the result of peace. It actually happens to us. But grace! Volumes have been written on grace, yet how much nearer to truly understanding it have we come since the first communication on the subject?
I see grace as God’s attitude towards us. It is forgiveness, mercy, love, kindness and forbearance all rolled up into one. It is God’s gift to his creatures. We cannot understand it, we can only believe and accept it, humbly and thankfully, knowing our salvation is because of it. What a gift!
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that your grace is sufficient for us. Help me to rely on that grace every day. Amen.