Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 18
Monday


BELIEVING IN
ADVANCE

READ:
Revelation 22:12-20
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Surely I am coming
quickly.
__Revelation 22:20
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In a German prison camp in World War 2, undiscovered by the guards, some Americans built a homemade radio. One day news came that the German high command had surrendered, ending the war. because of a communications breakdown, however, the guards did not yet know this. As word spread among the prisoners, a loud celebration broke out. For 3 days, they sang, waved at guards, and shared jokes over meals. on the fourth day, they awoke to find that all the Germans had fled. Their waiting had come to an end.

A number of Bible stories center on waiting: Abraham waiting for a child (Gen. 12-21). The Israelites waiting for deliverance from Egypt. Prophets waiting for fulfillment of their own predictions. The disciples waiting for Jesus to act like the powerful Messiah they anticipated. Jesus' final words at the end of Revelation are "I am coming quickly," followed by an urgent, echoing prayer, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20). For this, we still wait.

Here's the question I ask my self: as we wait, why are we so often fearful and anxious? We can, like the allied prisoners, act on the good news we say we believe. What is faith in God, after all, but believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse? __Philip Yancey

``````````````````````````````Faith looks beyond the shadow``````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````Of dread and doubt and fear```````````````````````````````
``````````````````````````````and finds the Savior waiting````````````````````````````````
```````````````````````````And always standing near. __French````````````````````````````
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Waiting tries our faith and so we wait in hope.

***********************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Revelation 22:12-21*************************************

12 "And behold, I am
coming quickly, and My
reward is with Me, to give to
every one according to his
work. 13 I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the Beginning
and the end, the First and the
Last."

14 Blessed are those who do
His commandments, that
they may have the right to
the tree of life, and may enter
through the gates into the
city. 15 But outside are dogs
and sorcerers and sexually
immoral and murderers and
idolaters, and whoever loves
and practices a lie.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent My
angel to testify to you these
things in the churches. I am
the Root and the Offspring of
David, the Bright and
Morning Star."

17 And the Spirit and the
bride say, "Come!" And let
him who hears say, "Come!"
And let him who thirsts
come. Whoever desires, let
him take the water of life
freely.

18 For I testify to everyone
who hears the words of the
prophecy of this book: If
anyone adds to these things,
God will add to him the
plagues that are written in
this book; 19 and if anyone
takes away from the words of
the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part
from the Book of Life, from
the holy city, and from the
things which are written in
this book.

20 He who testifies to these
things says, "Surely I am
coming quickly." amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

21 The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
After writing of the events that will precede Jesus' second coming (Rev.
3-22), John assured his readers of the certainty and nearness of Jesus'
return by quoting Him two times: "I am coming quickly" (vv.12,20).
John then adds a personal plea, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (v.20).