Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 (NRSV)
Read Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. Verse 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Verse 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Verse 16"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Verse 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let everyone who hears say, "Come." And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
Verse 20The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Verse 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
Devotion
“I am coming soon, my reward is with me to repay according to everyone’s work.” (vs. 12)
“Oh, no,” we think, “I need to hurry and do something for the Lord. Oh, no, have I done enough for the Lord? Oh, no, what will my reward be?”
If we believe Jesus is the alpha and the omega, this should not be a word of worry, but a word of hope. Jesus is not one to fear, but rather one to welcome. The one who is beginning and end invites us to come. Those who are thirsty, those who hear, those who wish to take the water of life are invited to come. In our lives, we thirst for peace, hope, comfort or other things. For what do you thirst? Our thirsts are quenched as we look forward to the return of the one who invites us to come. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus. Help us to hear your words of love, forgiveness and welcome in that word, "come." Help us not to live in fear of your coming, but to celebrate that you who began the world, you who redeemed the world, you who know us, promise to come again. You are the water of life and you quench our thirst. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.