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
POWER, coming from Grace and Peace.
Are we reading at the end of time or the present time? Twice in this passage the "is" comes before the "was," and the One who "IS" will last into the "IS TO COME." Once again in our readings this week the Spirit invites us into the loving dance of the Trinity, as we meditate on how Grace and Peace flow from the Eternal, from the Firstborn, from the One whose warm dominion is love. The ending will be like the beginning, because Christ IS. He is God's Word in creation; he is God's Word forever. Alpha and Omega; A and Z. We are held in this Power. This is Truth.
Prayer
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, live in me; use me in your Reign of Grace and Peace that is, that was, that is to come. Amen.