Eastertide

May 3, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!’
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.

So, how do we see through the darkness that clouds our view and identify that which is of God and that which is not? Perhaps we all should memorize 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, where Paul spells out measures of love:

 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

I like the definition of love as wanting God’s best for myself and all others. I think that is what is meant by loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. We do not define the plumb line that measures what that best is; God does, which means to love like God we must commit to a lifetime of knowing God more fully.

Jesus is not a political button or T-shirt slogan to further human causes. Jesus Christ is the plumb line for measuring God’s love and furthering the development of the Kingdom of God on earth. Revelation tells us that we need to recognize and follow the power leading that revolution.

In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!*

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when my love is tainted by the ways of lesser gods. Help my anchor to hold tightly to you. Amen.

*First verse and chorus of In Times Like These lyrics and music by Ruth Caye Jones see at https://namethathymn.com/christian-hymns/in-times-like-these-lyrics.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.