Today’s reading is Revelation 21:1-22:21.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates” (Revelation 22:14).

Who is blessed? Not those who kept their robes free from every stain. Not those who never fell, soiling their robes in the mud. Not those who never rubbed their robes against the dusty earth. Rather, those who have washed their robes. Those who have surrendered to the Lamb and to His blood (Revelation 7:14). His blood does not leave an uncleanable stain, but rather makes us unstainably clean. 

We are blessed not because we have kept ourselves clean but because we went to Jesus to be cleansed. He grants us the right to the tree of life. What Adam lost, we regain in Jesus. While Adam was cast out of the garden and held at bay by the angel with flaming sword, we may enter the city of God through the gates by the blood of Jesus Christ. We may splash in the living water and sup from the tree of life. We may sing praises with the angels of God.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:16.

“…We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10).

What great contrasts. People accused Paul of being an imposter, belittled him as unknown, threatened him with death and punishment, pitied him as sorrowful, mocked him as poor and having nothing. Yet, in reality he was a true apostle of God; he was well known to God and God’s people; he was alive and not killed; he was full of rejoicing in Christ; he was blessed with spiritual riches and in Christ possessed everything he wanted and needed.

I take comfort in knowing I am not what the world thinks of me. I am not what false brethren think of me. I am not what anyone thinks of me. I am only what God thinks of me. When I am in Christ, God think very much of me. I can take comfort today knowing that the world me see me as poor, powerless, penniless, and pitiful. In Christ I am rich, influential, wealthy, and to be envied. Of course, this is not because of me, but because of Jesus.

I don’t have to be concerned what the world thinks. I’m doing okay for myself because I’m in Jesus Christ.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Ephesians 5:1-6:24.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Church. To some that word carries amazing baggage. Boring. Irrelevant. Useless. When they hear the word, they think of buildings or ritualistic services. But that is not what Paul is talking about. How could I want to be anywhere but in Christ’s church. The church is the group of people that Jesus died for. The church is the group of people Jesus purchased with His blood. The church is the group of people that He will present to Himself cleansed, washed, holy, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.

When I understand that is what the church is how can I ever think of it as boring or irrelevant or useless. Christ’s church is awesome and today I’m glad to be part of it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

PPS. If you’d like to hear more about Christ’s awesome church, come to a special assembly at the Brownsburg Church of Christ in Brownsburg, Indiana on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 10:30 am. I’ll be sharing the 4 reasons Christ’s church is awesome.

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

Motivation. That’s what hit me the most in today’s reading.

Paul offers great motivation for all the changes he directs in our lives. He taught us to focus on heavenly things, not earthly. He said to put to death what is earthly in us. He said we should stop lying, get rid of wrath and anger, put away slander and malice. He said we should put on compassionate hearts, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love.

But why?

Should we do this so we can be raised with Christ? Should we do this so we can die with Christ and our life be hidden in His? Should we do this so Christ can become our life? Should we do this so we can put off the old self?

No.

Paul says we should do these things because we have already been raised with Christ, because we have already died and our lives are already hidden in Christ, because Christ is already our life, because we have already put off the old self. We are God’s children. These things have already happened, now we need to live like it.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that if we continue to live in sin we won’t be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:23). However, once again I am reminded that a motivation of me trying to be good enough to get all these promises from Christ always ends in failure for me. If I’m trying to get into Christ by stopping my sin and being good enough, I won’t make it. But Paul is saying, I’m in Christ. I have Christ’s life. I’m not trying to get it. Today I simply need to live like it. I can focus on heaven. I can focus on Christ. I can draw near to Him and overcome. That helps me. I hope it helps you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?