Prayer for Friday: Grant, O most gracious God, that I may carry with me through the day's life the remembrance of the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ my Lord. For Your fatherly love shown forth in Jesus Christ Your well-beloved Son...For His readiness to suffer for our sakes...For the redemptive passion that filled his heart...I praise and bless Your holy name. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon You today, precious Lord. Glory be to You, Father, and to You, O Christ, and to You, O Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading for Friday: Revelation 3-6
Scripture Reflection for Friday: Today's journey in God's word visits Revelation 3-6.
In Revelation 3, we see that the message to the church in Sardis warns us that a church may be full of activity but in reality be dead. Christians must keep watch not just over the outward ministry but over the fruit of the Spirit. What are some early signs of deadness in a church?
In Revelation 4, we see that the conflict between the church and the world boils down to this: “Who or what will you worship?” This is the great question of Revelation. What does chapter four teach us about what it means to worship God, and what motivates the worship of God?
In Revelation 5, we see that Christ alone has executed God’s plan at the cost of His own blood. He alone is worthy. He is the Lion who conquered, and yet He is the Lamb who was slaughtered for sinners. The only way to share in God’s victory and kingdom is by trusting in Christ alone. Faith in Christ alone says to Him, “Thou alone art worthy of my trust.” By God’s grace, do you trust Him?
In Revelation 6, we see that every century since Christ’s coming has trembled under the ravages of wars, famines, diseases, and violent persecution. Yet we should not fear. Christ rules over all. The gospel will reach every nation. Those who die in Christ already enjoy glory. What events shake the world today? How does faith in Christ equip us to meet them?
Daily Teaching (Catechism) for Friday:
(6.4) All the actual transgressions and sins arise from the first corruption from Adam, inherited by every human being. By it, we are thoroughly biased against and antagonistic toward all that is good (holy), and we are instead, in this natural state, inclined toward all that is evil. Only common grace keeps humanity from being as evil as they might be. Nonetheless, we do see great evil done in the world (James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19; Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21).
May God help you to grow in Christ today,
